Water Safety for Your School-aged Child

Swimming and playing in water can give your child much pleasure and good exercise. But you must take steps to prevent your child from drowning.

• Never let your child swim in any body of water without an adult watching.

• Be sure the adult watching your child knows how to swim, get emergency help, and perform CPR.

• Keep a life preserver and shepherd's hook in the pool area to help pull a child to the edge of the pool when necessary.

• Teach your child safety rules and make sure they are obeyed.

  • – Never swim alone.

  • – Never dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.

  • – Always use a life jacket when on a boat, fishing, or playing in a river or stream.

• Caution your child about the risks of drowning during the winter by falling through thin ice.

• Don't let young children and children who cannot swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above the waist.

• Watch children closely when they are playing near standing water, wells, open post holes, or irrigation or drainage ditches.

• Teach your child to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old).