Drowning Prevention for Pre-teens and Teens At Play
Most drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools, with many taking place in the pool at a child’s home or at the home of friends, neighbors or relatives. A child should never be unsupervised in or near water, even if he is a skilled swimmer.
 Top Tips
At the pool:
- Teach children how to swim.
- Make sure children never swim alone.
- Install four-sided isolation fencing, at least five feet high and equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, around a home pool or spa.
- Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers poolside.
- Teach children never to go near a pool drain with or without a cover, and to pin up long hair when in water.
In and around open water:
- Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when on a boat, near open bodies of water or when participating in water sports.
- Don't let kids operate personal watercraft (such as jet skis).
- Never allow anyone to swim near a dock or marina with electrical hookups or lighting — swimmers can be electrocuted in the water and drown.
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Safety Tools
There are many tools that parents can use to help to keep children safe from injuries. Many of them are affordable and can be found at many stores.
What you'll need:
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VGB Act-compliant pool drain cover |
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Pool fencing |
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Personal Flotation Device (PFD) |
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