May is National Water Safety Awareness Month! (Part 2) The 5 Layers of Protection: The Water Safety Shield

Common Misconception

Most people think swimming lessons alone prevent drowning. While swim lessons save lives, they do not fully prevent drowning, even for strong swimmers! Keeping kids safe around water requires multiple layers of protection.

Layer 1: Barriers and Alarms

A four-sided, 4-foot-tall pool fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate reduces toddler drownings by more than 50% (some studies even say up to 83%), the most effective single intervention!

Action Steps: Install proper pool fencing around all four sides • Keep bathroom doors closed with locks out of children's reach • Empty buckets, wading pools, and bathtubs immediately after use • Check other homes your child visits for water hazards

Layer 2: Supervision-The Water Watcher 

Drownings are silent and happen in seconds. Lifeguards cannot replace caregiver supervision.

Good Supervision Means: No distractions (no phones!) • Within arm's reach for young children • No gaps in watching

Try the Water Watcher System: Designate one adult as the water supervisor, then pass off duty to another adult when needed.

Layer 3: Water Competency and Swim Lessons

The AAP recommends swim lessons for children over age 1. Most children are developmentally ready by ages 4-6.

Where to Find Lessons: Local Parks and Rec • YMCA • American Red Cross 

• FREE beach swim lessons at Seattle public parks for ages 6-16 (summer, Mon-Fri): https://www.seattle.gov/parks/recreation/swimming-beaches 

Remember: Swim lessons reduce risk but don't eliminate it.

Layer 4: Life Jackets

Life jackets reduce boat related drowning deaths by 50%.

Who Needs Them: Age 0-5 anytime in or near ANY water • 6-11 when in or near any natural bodies of water • Everyone in a boat or swimming in open/natural bodies of water

Get the Right Fit: Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets, follow this link for more info: SCH: Life Jackets for Children and Teens

FREE life jacket loaner stations: Wa State Parks Life Jacket Loaner Stations Locator

Check out this life jacket coupon: SCH: Life Jacket Coupon Big 5

Tip: Teens are more likely to wear life jackets when adults wear them too!

Layer 5: Emergency Preparation

Be Ready: Keep flotation devices in boats and know their location • Learn CPR with rescue breaths • Keep a phone nearby to call 911 • Educate teens about water safety, especially about alcohol and recognizing dangerous conditions

Water Safety by Age

All layers are important, but here are the highlights! 

Infants: Barriers and supervision | Toddlers/Preschoolers: Barriers, supervision, swim lessons after 12 months, life jackets | School Age: All five layers | Teens: Swim competency, life jackets, and water education

Next Steps

Identify one action you can take this week: check your pool fence, talk to your family about the Water Watcher system, or look into swim lessons. Every step counts!

For more info visit: https://ndpa.org/layers/

Swimming and playing in the water are great ways to get outside! Remember by using all 5 layers of protection together, you can help keep your family safe while still enjoying water activities this spring and summer.

Sources Cited

1. Denny SA, Quan L, Gilchrist J, et al. Prevention of Drowning. Pediatrics. 2021;148(2):e2021052227. doi:10.1542/peds.2021-052227

2. DeGeorge KC, Neltner CE, Neltner BT. Prevention of Unintentional Childhood Injury. American Family Physician. 2020;102(7):411-417.

3. National Drowning Prevention Alliance. 5 Layers of Protection. Available at: https://ndpa.org/layers/. Accessed April 2026.

4. Seattle Children's Hospital. Life Jackets for Children and Teens. Available at: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/injury-prevention/life-jackets-for-children-and-teens/. Accessed April 2026.

5. Seattle Children's Hospital. Water Safety. Available at: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/injury-prevention/water-safety/. Accessed April 2026.