May is National Water Safety Month, marking the start of the warmer season when pools open and water recreation increases. This observance elevates public awareness regarding the dangers present in and around all bodies of water. The goal is the prevention of drowning, which remains the leading cause of unintentional death for children aged one to four years old. Safety campaigns emphasize a multi-layered approach, stressing that vigilance and preparation are the most reliable defenses.
Primary Prevention: Active Supervision and Physical Barriers
Drowning prevention begins with a layered defense strategy, starting with constant supervision and secure barriers. The most immediate defense is the “designated water watcher,” a responsible adult whose sole task is maintaining non-distracted visual contact with those in the water. This role requires undivided attention; the water watcher should not be reading, texting, socializing, or consuming alcohol while on duty. Drowning is often silent and can occur in less than a minute, requiring supervision to be active and continuous, not passive.
Physical barriers are the next essential layer, particularly in residential pool environments, where nearly 90% of drowning fatalities in children under five occur. A four-sided isolation fence that completely separates the pool from the house and yard is the standard requirement. This barrier should be at least four feet high and constructed without footholds that might assist climbing.
The gate on this fence must be self-closing and self-latching. The latch release mechanism should be positioned at least 54 inches from the ground, out of a small child’s reach. If the house wall acts as one side of the barrier, door alarms that sound immediately upon unauthorized entry provide an additional safeguard. A well-maintained power safety cover offers another physical obstacle to unsupervised access.
Essential Safety Gear and Flotation Devices
While structural barriers prevent access, specialized equipment provides immediate protection while in the water. United States Coast Guard (USCG)-approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), commonly known as life jackets, meet specific safety and buoyancy standards. Select a PFD correctly sized for the wearer’s weight and chest size, and test its fit to ensure it keeps the chin above the surface. These certified devices should never be confused with inflatable toys or swim aids, such as water wings, which offer a false sense of security and are not designed to save a life.
Beyond PFDs, various alarm systems offer a secondary layer of alert when other defenses fail. Subsurface pool alarms, certified to the ASTM F2208 standard, detect pressure changes below the waterline, reducing false alerts from wind or rain. Gate alarms, listed under UL 2017 standards, sound a loud alert when the pool barrier is breached. Simple rescue equipment, like a reaching pole or a throw bag, should be readily available at the poolside to enable a safe, non-contact rescue.
Navigating Unique Risks in Open Water and Boating
Natural bodies of water present distinct hazards compared to controlled pool environments, largely due to unpredictable currents, temperatures, and submerged objects. Open water often has limited visibility, concealing dangers like hidden debris, submerged logs, and uneven bottoms, with sudden drop-offs that can quickly change the depth. Swimmers should be aware of rip currents in coastal areas. These powerful, channeled flows of water move away from shore at speeds up to eight feet per second. Rip currents pull a person out, not under, and the correct response is to float or swim parallel to the shore until the current dissipates.
Cold water shock is another severe risk, particularly when water temperatures fall below 59°F (15°C). Sudden immersion causes an involuntary gasp reflex and rapid hyperventilation, which can lead to immediate water inhalation and drowning. The initial, dangerous phase of shock typically lasts about one minute, during which a person can lose control of their breathing and muscle function. On any boat, federal and state laws require a USCG-approved PFD for every person on board, and children under the age of 13 must wear one at all times while underway. Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol is a leading factor in fatal boating accidents, with impairment often beginning with an amount of alcohol far less than the legal driving limit.
Emergency Action and Response Training
Knowing the correct emergency response protocol is a final, necessary layer of protection. When a water incident occurs, the immediate first step is to call 911 or the local emergency number. Time is extremely limited during a drowning event, and professional responders must be alerted without delay. Anyone who spends time around water should consider becoming certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as immediate application of rescue breaths and chest compressions significantly improves outcomes for a non-breathing victim.
For bystanders attempting a rescue, the “Reach, Throw, Row, Go” principle prioritizes safety and non-contact methods. The sequence instructs rescuers to:
- Reach with an object like a pole or branch.
- Throw a flotation device if the person is too far.
- Row a boat out to the victim.
- Go into the water only as a last resort if trained and with a flotation device.
The fundamental rule is to avoid entering the water without training, as a struggling person can inadvertently pull a rescuer under, creating a second victim.