Be water-wise during swim season

Remember how much fun you had playing in the pool, lake or ocean growing up? Ensure your child can make their own memories by keeping them safe. Start by designating an adult to watch them when they're around water.

Always have your eyes on them

The best way to keep your child safe around water is to give them your undivided attention.

If several adults are present while children are swimming, it's easy to assume someone else is watching them. According to Cook Children's water safety program experts, it's crucial to assign an adult water watcher who's observing and within reach at all times, because kids can drown quietly and quickly.

Protection points

Follow these tips to keep your child safe around a pool or open water:

• Always have your child wear a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved life jacket in or around open water.
• Don't leave toys in the pool, which could tempt your child to go in after them.
• Enroll your child in swim lessons as early as age 1.
• Install a pool fence with self-closing and self-locking gates.
• Learn CPR.
• Finally, choose the color of your child's bathing suit with care.
  Avoid dark and pale colors, which can blend into the water and make a child difficult to spot quickly. According to the primary care pediatricians at Cook Children's Physician Network, contrasting bright colors or neon colors in yellow, orange and red are good choices.

Join the club

Sign up for the Cook Children's Water Safety Club to receive prevention tools, find water safety classes and more. To become a member, click here.

Need a life jacket?

Cook Children's and partners stock more than 50 life jacket loaner stations at 12 lakes, reservoirs and rivers in 10 counties across North Texas. Just find your child's size, follow the station's instructions to fit the life jacket correctly, and return it before you leave to keep the next user safe.

Related resources

• Water Safety Resources | Cook Children's
• Discover more ways to Lifeguard your child