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Water Safety - Layers of Protection

Layers of Protection

Whether it's bathing babies and toddlers, having a pool party, or going boating, water is great fun. Below is some important information about using Layers of Protection when around water:

Layer One: Barriers and Alarms

  • Have 4-sided permanent or removable fencing around pools to prevent access
  • Install door, window, gate, perimeter pool surface or subsurface alarms
  • All gates should be self-closing, self-latching, and have a locking device
  • Gates should open away from the pool
  • Keep chairs, tables, stools away to prevent kids from climbing over fencing
  • All doors with direct access should be self- closing and self-latching with a release at least 54" above the floor
  • Secure pet doors
  • Cover the pool with a safety cover - don't allow children/animals on the cover
  • Solar covers are NOT safety devices
  • Maintain drains and drain covers to prevent entrapment
  • Close toilet lids, empty buckets, tubs, kiddie pools, and don't start bath water until a caregiver is and stays present
  • Put away all pool toys when finished with swim time

Layer Two: Close, Constant and Capable Supervision

  • Know where your children are - kids can drown in as little as 1” of water
  • Remind guests and any caregivers of the potential pool hazards and need for constant supervision
  • If a child is missing, check the pool first - time is of the essence
  • When infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be providing “touch supervision” and be within arms length
  • Flotation devices are not a substitute for supervision - pool toys, “floaties”, “water wings”, puddle jumpers are NOT safety devices
  • Designate a ‘Water Water” whose sole responsibility is to constantly watch the children in the pool - switch “Water Watchers” every 15- 20 minutes
  • Lifeguards are NEVER a substitute for caregiver supervision

Layer Three: Water Competency and Survival Skills

  • EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN HOW TO SWIM
  • Enroll kids in formal swim lessons - according to the CDC, formal swim lessons can reduce drowning by up to 88%

Layer Four: Life Jackets

  • US Coast Guard (USCG) tested and approved flotation devices (life jackets) should be worn by everyone when around open/natural bodies of water and when boating
  • Devices that are not tested and approved by the USCG should not be considered a layer of protection or part of a family water safety plan

Layer Five: Aquatic Emergencies

  • Call for help
  • Learn and practice CPR
  • Take a water safety course and learn to use safety equipment such as a shepherd's hook, life ring, or rescue tube
  • Check your local YMCA, Parks & Recreation Departments, local City Offices, and the Internet to find swim lessons with certified instructors
  • Even after swim lessons, never consider children “drown-proof”, nothing eliminates the risk
  • Do not overly rely on life jackets to teach kids to swim or learn to swim independently
  • If a child is missing, check the pool first; if the child cannot be located immediately call 911 for search assistance

DROWNING IS SILENT AND QUICK AND CAN HAPPEN IN LESS THAN 20 SECONDS!

Keep these layers of protection in mind to make water safer for kids and families.

Life Jacket Loaner Stations

Safe Fun Starts Here!

When Beaching or Boating, always remember to use US Coast Guard approved life jackets. Several local beaches and boat docks have Life Jacket Loaner Stations and offer life jackets to borrow when out on the water. The jackets are simply put back in the stations when done.

Follow these simple steps:

  • Find the correct size - jackets are sized by weight for children
  • Fasten all buckles, zippers, and straps correctly
  • The jacket should be snug not tight
  • There should be no gaps at the shoulders or sides
  • Return the life jacket to the station when done using

Some tips to stay safe at the beach and while boating:
Stay vigilant about the weather: Seek shelter when you hear thunder, exit the water immediately, and move to a safe location. Florida holds the title of being the lightning capital of the United States.


LIGHTENING CAN STRIKE A BEACH OR WATER FROM UP TO 10 MILES AWAY, EVEN IF IT IS SUNNY!

  • Have basic rules in place before you get to the beach or on the boat
  • Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as a pool
  • Be aware of currents and rip currents and teach how to avoid and escape
  • Stay hydrated and reapply sunblock every 2 hours
  • Swim and boat only in designated areas
  • Have a designated driver on the boat
  • Jump, do not dive, into water that is unfamiliar