Basic Water Safety

Water safety, the state of being secure or protected while in, on, or around water, is the result of education, preparation, and awareness. It is an understanding that a child can drown suddenly and silently unless we stay vigilant. It is also an awareness that no one is completely “drownproof,” not even the most proficient swimmers. It is balance of adequate supervision, barriers that restrict access, and instruction in safe behaviors and best practices that ensure positive outcomes while our loved ones engage in swimming, diving, or other aquatic activities.

Water Safety Top 10 Tips

If you search the internet for “Top 10 Tips for Water Safety,” you’ll find that lots of websites have published their list. These lists have common elements, but they are not all the same. But that’s OK. If you ever wonder which water safety tip is the most important, it is the one that helps you or a loved one when you most need help!

One of the best top 10 lists of water safety tips was published by International Water Safety Day (check it out on the right).

Other lists of water safety tips and guidelines include:

Water Safety Systems

Water safety tips and guidelines should be customized based on:

Participant age and swimming ability
Type of aquatic activity
Water conditions and weather
Aquatic environment

Because of these variables, a customized water safety system should be developed for each family member and aquatic environment. Children, who may be too young to assess risks or to understand their ability level, should have guidelines set for them by their parents. Individual water safety systems should include general guidelines as well as those that are environment- or activity-specific.

Choosing a Safe Place to Swim

Part of a water safety system should include criteria for choosing safe places to swim.

The area is set up for swimming or has a designated swimming area.
There are easy entry and exit points for the water.
Lifeguard service is provided.
Water quality is clean and free of contamination.
There are no dangerous currents, rapids, waves, or obstructions.
The bottom conditions are level, stable, and free of hazards (e.g., plant life, rocks, glass, thick mud, etc.).
If a pool or water park, the water is heated, filtering, and chlorinated.
The site has changing facilities, bathrooms, water, etc.
Cellular service is available.
Rescue and first aid equipment are close at hand.

Applying General Guidelines

Another part of the water safety system should include general safety guidelines (which are applicable everywhere), including the following:

Learn to swim, but know the limits of your swimming ability.
Learn first aid and CPR. Carry a first aid kit.
Never swim alone.
Swim in an area patrolled by lifeguards. Obey lifeguard instructions.
Do not swim or take part in aquatic activities when intoxicated.
Read and follow all posted rules in the swimming area.
Never dive headfirst into shallow or murky water.
Do not engage in rough play.
Wear a life jacket if you are a weak swimmer.

Enviornment-Specific Water Safety Guidelines

Some water safety guidelines apply in certain environments or under particular circumstances only.

Backyard Swimming Pools

Make sure the pool is properly filtering and chlorinated.
Make sure the pool has anti-entrapment drain covers.
Make sure rescue equipment is in good repair and close at hand.
Do not allow access without adult permission and supervision.
Do not allow headfirst diving in a backyard or above-ground pool.
Young children and weak swimmers should wear life jackets. An adult must be in the water and within arm’s reach of each small child.
A Water Watcher should always be designated when family and friends are in the water.
When the pool is not being used, small children must be watched and a four-sided barrier must be in place to prevent access to the pool.

Spas

Make sure the spa is properly filtering and chlorinated.
Make sure your spa has anti-entrapment drain covers. Know how to quickly turn off the filtration pumps.
Maintain a safe water temperature of no more than 104°F (40°C).
Do not soak for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Never soak alone.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages and soak.
Consult your physician before using the spa if you are elderly, pregnant, or afflicted with heart problems or a chronic medical condition like diabetes, seizure disorder, etc.
Supervise all children using the spa. Do not allow children under 5 years of age to use the spa.

Other Water Sources at Home

Supervise infants and small children during bath time. Do not leave a child alone in the bath tub for even a second!
Restrict access to the toilet when small children are in the home.
Empty all containers of water immediately after use. This includes buckets, basins, kiddie pools, etc.
Use supervision and barriers to prevent access to water sources around the house that cannot be emptied.

Beaches

Talk to the lifeguard about beach conditions to make sure it is safe. Take note of the flags that communicate hazardous conditions.
Note the waves, rocks and other obstructions, and rip currents. Stay away from piers, pilings, and jetties when in the water.
Even if lifeguard service is provided, watch children playing close to the water. With small children, keep them within arm’s reach around the swash and backwash of the surf.
Know your limits in ocean water. Swimming in the ocean is more difficult than swimming in a pool.
Be aware of the strength and direction of the littoral drift. Make sure the family stays within sight.
If caught in a rip current, do not fight the current. Swim parallel to shore until out of the rip current and then swim to shore.
Never enter murky water from a pier or a cliff. Never dive through waves.
Stay away from shore-breaking waves and rocks during heavy surf.

Community Swimming Pools

Verify that lifeguard service is provided and that the lifeguards present are attentive and vigilant.
Follow all posted rules and instructions given by the lifeguards.
Check the pool area for obvious hazards (e.g., slippery decks, debris on the pool bottom, malfunctioning equipment, drop-offs, cracks in the deck, etc.).
Do not bring any glass or breakable objects onto the pool deck.
Do not swim in a pool that is overly crowded or with swimmers who are not following the rules.
Do not dive head first in an unsupervised pool.
Do not hyperventilate or swim underwater for an extended period.

Unsupervised Swimming Pools

Locate the No Lifeguard on Duty sign. This sign indicates the minimum age that children must be to use the pool without an adult present.
Read and follow all posted rules.
Check the pool area for obvious hazards (e.g., slippery decks, debris on the pool bottom, malfunctioning equipment, drop-offs, cracks in the deck, etc.).
Do not bring any glass or breakable objects onto the pool deck.
Do not swim in a pool that is overly crowded or with swimmers who are not following the rules.
Do not dive head first in an unsupervised pool.
Do not hyperventilate or swim underwater for an extended period.

Rivers

Tell someone at home where you are going and when you plan to return.
Choose a safe place to swim, canoe, kayak, or raft. Rivers have natural pools and eddies where currents are slow and swimming may be safe. Know your limits in open water.
Avoid areas with strong currents, dams, and waterfalls.
Never swim, boat, or raft alone.
Make sure your swimming, boating, or rafting are equal to conditions of the river.
Wear a properly fitted life jacket when canoeing, kayaking, and rafting.
Wear proper clothing and protective footwear to protect yourself from injury, water temperature, and weather extremes.

Waterfronts (Bays, Lagoons, Lakes, Ponds)

Even if lifeguard service is provided, practice the buddy system and/or designate a Water Watcher to supervise children in the water.
Know your limits in open water. Swimming at a waterfront is more difficult than swimming in a pool.
Use head-first entries only when the area is clearly marked for diving. Otherwise use a feet-first entry or a slide-in entry.
Avoid thermoclines below the surface of the water. The sudden change in water temperature can cause shock.
Be sure docks, piers, and rafts are in good condition (i.e., no splinters, loose boards, exposed nails, etc.). Never swim underneath a dock, pier, or raft.

Waterparks

Make sure the waterpark offers lifeguard service. This is required by the laws in every state.
Read all posted signs and follow all directions given by the lifeguards. Pay particular attention to height, weight, and/or age requirements and depth indications of the catch pools, lazy rivers, wave pools, speed slides, etc.
Be aware that some attractions has moving water which may make it difficult to stand up or exit the attraction.
When using a water slide, always get into the correct position-face up and feet-first.
Have weak swimmers wear a properly fitted life jacket. Some waterparks provide life jackets at no charge.