Water Safety

Kids of all ages enjoy playing with water. Whether in a pool, at the beach or in a bath tub, the risk of drowning is always present. Young children’s natural curiosity and older adolescents’ adventurous nature puts them at a higher risk of drowning. In Sacramento County, 70% of drowning deaths occurred in children under the age of five. Drowning has been called a “silent killer” because it happens so fast and children rarely make any noise during the incident.

Fortunately, drowning is easily preventable. By taking a few extra steps to use “layers of protection” including adult active supervision, physical barriers such as self-latching pool and spa fences, and becoming CPR certified, we can do our part to help prevent drowning.

Scroll down for resource links including the ABC’s of Drowning Prevention, Life Jacket Loaner Stations, water safety poster translations, and ABC’s program materials.

ABC’s of Drowning Prevention:

A

ADULT SUPERVISION

Always assign a “Water Watcher” who knows how to swim

B

BARRIERS

Put in, check and always use a child-proof barrier around your pool/spa area.

C

CPR & CLASSES

Learn CPR & rescue breathing. Make sure kids & adults in your family go to swim lessons & receive water safety training.

ABC’s of Drowning VIDEO

WATER SAFETY TIPS

Keep bathroom and laundry rooms closed;
Never leave your child unattended around water. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water;
Empty all buckets, store them up upside down, and out of children’s reach;
Keep toilet lids closed;
Drain tubs immediately after bath time;
When in the bath, keep kids at arm’s reach and supervised at all times; and
Learn infant and adult CPR.

Make sure there is at least a 4 foot high self-latching gated fence around all sides of the pool or spa; with a self-latching gate.
Use pool or spa surface or gate alarms;
Make sure to supervise all children without interruptions regardless if they know how to swim;
Learn how to swim;
For children who do not know how to swim well, make sure they are within reach at all times;
Make sure children and adults know how to swim;
Teach children not to play or swim near pool or spa drains;
Remove ladders for above ground pools when not in use;
Use anti-entrapment drain covers and back-up devices; and
Cover pools and spas when not in use;
Keep a phone nearby in the case of emergency;
If a child is missing, check the pool/spa first;
Learn infant and adult CPR.

Always watch children, regardless of their ability to swim, while in or near water;
Make sure there are no distractions (e.g. talking with others, texting, reading, etc.) when watching children;
Makes sure all children and adults wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets while boating or participating in water sports;
Be aware of weather, currents, and wave conditions;
Make sure children and adults know how to swim;
Know how to swim out of a rip current;
Teach children never to swim alone;
Teach children only to swim in designated swimming areas;
Teach children how to swim and float with a lift jacket;
Keep a phone nearby in the case of emergency;
If a child is missing, check the water first;
Learn infant and adult CPR; and
Learn how to use rescue equipment.

Safe Kids Greater Sacramento has also been a huge proponent of other local, statewide and national programs and efforts to prevent drowning. Our coalition has:

Helped to pass the 2007 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

Advocated and successfully helped to pass the 2007 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act which requires the use of anti-entrapment drain covers and other layers of protection (e.g. pool fences, covers, alarms, etc.), creates incentive grant programs for states to adopt comprehensive pool and spa safety laws and establishes a national drowning prevention education program within the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission;

Promoted the Water Watcher program

Where adults take turns watching the children when a group of adults and children go to a pool, beach, or other body of water to swim (download a Water Watcher card here);

Provided training materials and education

to a number of local agencies to share with their clients about water safety;

Sponsored local “Life Jacket Loan Programs”

Participated in and sponsored local “Life Jacket Loan Programs”, where an individual or family can check out life jackets for a day or weekend;

FREE LIFE JACKET LOANER STATIONS

Free Life Jacket Loaner Program. Click on your region for a list of Life Jacket Loaner Stations in English and Spanish

life jacket fit fliers
Pool & River Safety Posters

Thank you to Sacramento County Public Health, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Boat U.S. Foundation, and Safe Kids Worldwide for their assistance with creating and translating these materials.