Safe Swimming and Drowning Prevention

Image with a pool water background with the words "Safe Swim Summer" the tips: Be a water watcher, Avoid Distractions, and Have a swim buddy are across the graphic.

Did you know in Ohio, 45% of child drowning deaths reviewed were among toddlers (1-4 years old)?

Many drowning injuries occur in pools, spas/hot tubs, and natural water settings (e.g., lakes, rivers, or ponds). There are several actions you can take to lower your risk of drowning including:

  • Consider a person’s ability to swim.
  • Ensure barriers are in place that prevent water access.
  • Ensure close supervision while swimming.
  • Always wear a life jacket.
  • Avoid alcohol use.
  • Consider medical conditions that can increase risk.

Although local child fatality review boards found that most drowning deaths occurred in privately owned pools, it’s important to keep water safety in mind any time you’re around a body of water. Anytime you’re around a pool, lake, pond, or any body of water, it’s important to be a water watcher and avoid all distractions like your phone, a book, or alcohol. If a child goes missing, always check the nearby water as soon as possible.

Use the tabs below to learn more about safe swimming.

Safe Swim in Pools

In 2023, most pool-related child drowning reviews found that there were no safety resources available (e.g., lifeguard or supervising adult, floatation device, or rescue device). (Source: Ohio Department of Health (ODH) 2023 Child Fatality Review Annual Report.) Whether you’re swimming in a public pool or at a friend’s house, there are steps you can take to prevent drowning and other injuries.

Be a water watcher.

Pay close attention to kids in and near the water. Even if the pool you’re swimming in has a lifeguard on duty, you should keep an eye on kids and teens. Teach kids to have regular check-ins with you to ensure everyone is having a safe swim. If you can’t see the bottom of the pool, don’t go in.

Avoid Distractions.

Drowning can happen quickly. Keep your eyes on kids and teens and not distracted by books, cell phones, and alcohol. It’s still a good idea to have a phone near in case of emergency.

Always have a swim buddy.

Always swim with a buddy! Teach your kids to keep an eye on their swim buddy and alert an adult if they need help. The buddy system is also great for people with medical conditions that increase their risk of drowning. Teach kids to have regular check-ins with you to ensure everyone is having a safe swim.

Secure the pool when no one is around.

More than half of the drowning deaths reviewed by child fatality review boards between 2018 and 2022 did not have barriers put in place, such as pool covers, doors, gates, alarms, and fencing (55%). Additionally, only 13% of drowning reviews among children found that lifesaving resources were available at the scene (e.g., lifeguard, supervising adult, flotation device, etc.). The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends enclosing a pool with a four-sided fence that is at least four feet in height with a self-closing, self-latching, and lockable gate.

Know where all safety equipment is located.

Look around the pool and find where the emergency equipment is located - see if you can find a first aid kit and a life ring or shepherd’s hook. Knowing CPR could save someone's life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive. Organizations such as American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer CPR training courses, both online and in-person.

Wear age-appropriate safety gear.

Kids should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Enroll kids in swimming lessons when age and developmentally appropriate. Talk to your child's healthcare provider for more information.

Safe Swim for People with Disabilities

According to the CDC, drowning deaths among people with Autism are nearly 40 times as likely than among the general population. People with seizure disorders such as epilepsy are at a higher risk of fatal and nonfatal drowning than the general population. Avoid swimming if you take medications that impair your balance, coordination, or judgement. These side effects increase the risk of drowning. Follow these tips to make sure everyone has a safe swim this summer.

Be a water watcher.

Pay close attention to people in and near the water and avoid distractions like books, cell phones, and alcohol. It’s still a good idea to have a phone near in case of emergency. Service providers should know each person’s ability in the water before heading to the pool. Service providers should designate another staff member to stay out of the water and watch for problems.

Communications board for water safety.

Communication boards help people communicate with others by using symbols, pictures, or photos. They can be used by people to express their needs, preferences, and decisions. Download the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Safe Swim communication board.

Secure the pool when no one is around.

Fatal drowning in children with Autism typically occurs in bodies of water near homes in the afternoon hours precipitated by wandering. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends enclosing a pool with a four-sided fence that is at least four feet in height with a self-closing and self-latching gate. Make sure your family, friends, neighbors, service providers, and babysitters know about specific risks (water safety and wandering) so they can ensure safeguards are in place.

Safe Swim in Lakes

In 2023, 47% of unintentional drowning deaths in Ohio occurred in natural waters. Keep these tips in mind when visiting one of Ohio’s many recreational water ways.

Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Your boat day packing list is not complete until you have a life jacket for everyone on board that is U.S. Coast Guard-approved. Did you know some boats may also need to have a throwable floatation device? More information on life jackets can be found on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Life Jacket Facts page.

Even if you’re spending the day at the beach, you should wear a life jacket. Waves, currents, sand bars, and more can challenge even the most experienced swimmers.

Only swim in designated areas at the beach or lake.

Many Ohio State Parks offer beaches for swimming. Make sure to check water quality advisories at Ohio Department of Health - BeachGuard before you go. Do not swim past the boundaries (marked by buoys) of the designated swimming area in the water.

If you’re heading to the Lake Erie shoreline, keep in mind that it can be remarkably different from place to place. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has more information on swimming at Lake Erie on their Beach Safety on Lake Erie webpage.

Always have a swim buddy.

Always swim with a buddy! Teach your kids to keep an eye on their swim buddy and alert an adult if they need help. The buddy system is also great for people with medical conditions that increase their risk of drowning.

Be a water watcher.

Swimming in lakes is different from swimming in pools. The water is darker, there are more unknowns, like waves and currents, and the depth can change quickly. Visitors at all beaches must swim at their own risk, as lifeguards will not always be on duty. Pay close attention to kids in and near the water and avoid distractions like books, cell phones, and alcohol. It’s still a good idea to have a phone near in case of emergency. Teach your kids to have regular check-ins with you to ensure everyone is having a safe swim.

If you see someone who needs help:

  • Throw anything that floats to them, like a life ring, life jacket, cooler, or inflated beach toy.
  • Seek help from park staff, friends, or others at the beach and call 911.
  • Shout to the person in danger and direct them to flip on their back and float until someone can assist them, or until they can swim out of the current toward shore.

Retention Ponds

Don’t dive right into any body of water. Retention ponds can vary in depth and are not meant for swimming. If you have a retention pond in your community with no fencing or signage about not swimming, talk to your community leaders. We have this yard sign you can use to keep everyone in your community safe.

 Safe Swim Campaign 2025 Yard Sign

Information for Pool Facilities

For pool operators.

According to the CDC, in the United States, the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 is drowning. Non-fatal drowning incidents can cause considerable effects such as brain damage and long-term disability. ODH recommends local health departments utilize drowning prevention education to encourage public swimming pool operators to promote safe swimming practices within their facilities, and to provide drowning prevention education to their communities. Providing educational materials for parents and educators can increase the public’s awareness of safe swimming practices. It is a joint effort between health department officials, public swimming pool operators, and parents to ensure that pools in Ohio are used and maintained in a safe manner.

Below are ways a public swimming pool operator can go the extra mile to promote safe swimming practices within their facilities:

  • The pool operator may provide a pool orientation for new patrons or visitors to review rules and safety precautions that are in place at the facility.
  • The pool operator may require children to perform a swim test before using the public swimming pool. This can include incorporating the use of ability bands as a marker for which younger swimmers are able to utilize special features and/or deeper water.
  • The pool operator could provide swimming lessons for patrons/guests.
  • The pool operator can consider any options for supervision at the facility. This can be especially helpful in non-lifeguarded pools where the operator can explore other options for supervision.
  • At least one staff member at the pool has received training to become a certified pool operator.
  • All safety equipment is easily accessible, and emergency phones are tested regularly.
  • Provide pool visitors with signage promoting good hygiene practices.

Helpful Tools for Pool Operators:

For pool inspectors.

To help support strong relationships between local health departments and public swimming pool operators, ODH recommends local health departments hold routine meetings with public swimming pool operators. These meetings give pool operators an opportunity to ask questions about how to more safely operate their facilities and allow the local health department to share educational information to ensure a safe swim season. Below are some recommendations for topics to discuss:

  • Inspections can be used as an opportunity to provide educational materials to public pool operators. Educational videos and handouts for drowning prevention are available on the CDC website as well as ODH public swimming pools page.
  • Discuss any new/upcoming public swimming pool rule changes with pool operators.
  • Discuss previous swim season’s most common violations and discuss any corrective actions.
  • Discuss pool season opening and closing procedures.
  • Review record keeping requirements and water quality requirements for newer pool operators.
  • Provide any useful forms: plan review and ERN applications, water quality record keeping. ODH has a record keeping form available on the public swimming pools webpage under “Forms.” The local health department or pool operator can also make a record keeping form that encompasses the water quality and chemical records needed for the facility.
  • Demonstrate incident reporting visualization on Data Ohio Portal. This could also lead a discussion surrounding drowning prevention plans for special features within each facility.
  • Consider developing a pool program social media page for public swimming pool operators within a local jurisdiction. This gives operators the chance to ask questions of local health inspectors and their peers if they have operational questions and can be useful for local health departments to send out reminders such as annual license renewals and rule updates.

Local health departments can also utilize educational materials provided by ODH and the CDC to hand out at schools, doctors’ offices, or local health department waiting rooms. The CDC has many posters and articles available about drowning facts, risk factors for drowning, and drowning prevention recommendations. The list below are resources for local health departments, public swimming pool operators, parents, and educators to utilize when learning more about safe swimming.

Helpful Tools for Public Pool Inspectors:

Additional Resources