Always Be On Guard

Nine years ago, Cook Children's started Lifeguard Your Child™, an education campaign to help prevent drowning. It's a message that's more important than ever. In 2023, there were 90 fatal child drownings in Texas, and hundreds more non-fatal, according to the state Department of Family and Protective Services.

"Supervision is the key to preventing child drownings," said Jillian Mitchell, drowning prevention program coordinator at Cook Children's Center for Community Health. "You have to do more than just be present, though. When your child is around water, stay in reach of them and give your full attention, without distractions. That's because a child can drown in less than a minute and without making noise." You are your child's best lifeguard.

Layers of pool safety

Last year, nearly half of child drownings in Texas happened in swimming pools. If you have a pool at home, install alarms and barriers to prevent unsupervised access, including:

Door, window and pool surface alarms.
Four-sided fencing at least four feet high around the pool.
Pool and spa covers.
Self-closing, childproof pool gates that only open out.

"Don't overlook pet doors," said Dana Walraven, manager of community health outreach at Cook Children's Center for Community Health. "Tragically, we have noted that toddlers can crawl through doggy doors that often lead to the backyard pool area. The simple fix is to lock the pet door when the family is home."

Knowing how to swim provides another layer of protection. Many children are ready for swim lessons at age 1, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Find more pool safety tips here

Keep bath time safe

The bathtub is another common place for child drownings in Texas. To protect your child during bath time, be sure to:

Gather towels, toys, soap, shampoo and other supplies before the bath so you don't
have to leave the room during bath time.
Stay in the room and always keep your eyes on your child.
Take your child with you if you need to leave the room.
Drain the tub and put away the toys when the bath is over.
Install a child safety lock on the tub faucet so your child can't turn on the water alone.

More tips on bath time safety can be found here

Be watchful around open water

When you head to your family's favorite beach or swimming hole, take your life jackets. When you arrive, check the water conditions to be sure it's safe to swim. Designate an adult Water Watcher to keep their eyes on the kids in your group at all times.

"The need for a Water Watcher doesn't end when the kids are out of the water," Walraven said. "It's easy to get distracted during transition times, like when you're loading or unloading the car or putting out picnic food. A Water Watcher should keep an eye on kids during these times, too. In addition, kids should wear their life jackets anytime they're around water, not just when they're in it."

Young children are not the only ones at risk for drowning and near-drowning. In fact, the risk of open water drownings triple at age 15.

Dana Gage, founder of the LV Project, a Cook Children's community partner, reminds teens about the importance of life jackets.
"Just like they buckle up in the car, they should buckle up at the lake," she says.

Get more open water safety tips here

Make safety fun!

Worried your child won't want to wear a life jacket? Take them shopping and let them pick one out - as long as it's labeled as being U.S. Coast Guard - approved. Your child may be more willing to suit up for safety in a life jacket with a fun pattern or their favorite color.

Only use U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets

Look for a life jacket that's approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. This ensures the life jacket meets important safety standards. Check the inner labels on the jacket. Many are not U.S. Coast Guard approved and are not a lifesaving device.

Last year's life jackets and hand me downs may not be up to standard. Always inspect used life jackets carefully. If any part is damaged or broken, don't let your child wear it.

Don't depend on floaties. Floaties are not a lifesaving device. They are filled with air and they only hold up the arms, not the head.

Find the right fit

Whether at the pool, lake, river or beach, there's one piece of safety equipment your child needs: a well-fitting life jacket. Wearing a life jacket can help keep your child's head above water. That's especially important in open water, where currents and waves can make swimming or floating difficult.

Sizing is important. Check the inner label and get the right fit for your child. Sizing may be by age, weight and/or chest size.

Try the lift test. "Have your child try on the life jacket and fasten all straps," said Jillian Mitchell, drowning prevention program coordinator at Cook Children's. "It should fit snugly. Next, lift the life jacket at the shoulders. If it rides up past your child's ears, you may need to adjust the straps or try a different size."

For more drowning prevention information and resources, visit lifeguardyourchild.org.