Summer Water Safety: Tips to Protect Your Family

Living in southeast Louisiana means easy access to pools, rivers, lakes, and boating. These activities are part of our lifestyle, but they also come with real risks. Drowning often happens faster and more quietly than people realize, which is why taking a few simple precautions can make such a big difference.

Whether you’re spending time with family, enjoying outings with friends, or simply relaxing on your own, these simple water safety tips can help keep everyone safe this summer.

Start with the Basics: Always Supervise

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old in the United States, and Louisiana generally ranks in the top four states nationwide for fatal drowning rates each year. It can happen silently, often in seconds, even when adults are nearby.

That's why the most important rule around access to water is active supervision when watching children. Even in relaxed settings, like hanging out with friends or within family gatherings, it’s easy to assume someone else is watching. Make supervision a clear responsibility:

• Assign one adult to be the “water watcher” at all times.
• Stay within arm’s reach of young children or weak swimmers.
• Put phones away and avoid distractions.
• Never rely on older children to watch younger ones.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends “touch supervision” for toddlers and inexperienced swimmers, which means you are close enough to reach them immediately.

“As a pediatric NP and mom, here is my golden rule: drowning is silent and only takes seconds,” explains North Oaks Pediatric Clinic Nurse Practitioner Michelle Emory. “When everyone is supervising, no one is supervising, so make it official and help keep our little swimmers safe!

Pool Safety at Home and with Friends

Backyard pools are a common gathering spot and a common place for injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend these precautions to stay safe:

• Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Fencing alone can greatly reduce a child’s risk of unintentional drowning by limiting access when adults are not present.
• Remove toys around the pool when not in use.
• Use proper safety covers and alarms around pools and hot tubs.
• Learn CPR so you can respond in an emergency.
• Do not rely on pool floaties, inflatable toys, or water wings to keep children safe.

Floaties and inflatable toys can give a false sense of security. They are not designed to prevent drowning and can slip off, deflate, or tip over unexpectedly. The CDC and other water safety resources note that these items should never replace life jackets or active supervision.

Lakes and Rivers: Know the Differences

Natural water is very different from a pool. Conditions can change quickly, and hidden dangers are common in these bodies of water, especially if you are swimming, fishing, kayaking, or floating alone or with friends.

• Watch for currents, drop-offs, and debris.
• Swim only in designated areas when possible.
• Check weather conditions before heading out.
• Always swim with a buddy. Even adults should avoid swimming alone.

Lakes and rivers require more strength and awareness due to currents, temperature changes, and low visibility.

Life Jackets Save Lives

In Louisiana, boating and water sports are popular, but safety equipment is essential. In Louisiana, all vessels must carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board, so make sure to wear iton boats and in open water.

• Ensure your life jacket fits properly and is in good condition.
• Teach children and weak swimmers to wear a life jacket at all times. In Louisiana, state law requires that children ages 16 and younger wear a life jacket when on boats that are under 26 feet in length.
• Consider wearing one even if you’re a strong swimmer, especially when alone.

Life jackets significantly reduce the risk of drowning, especially during boating incidents. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 75% of boating deaths are due to drowning, and 87% of those victims weren’t wearing life jackets.

Boating Safety Tips for Everyone

A day on the water should be fun, not dangerous. Never drink alcohol when boating, supervising children, or in open water. Alcohol impairs judgment and is a major factor in water-related injuries and deaths. The CDC reports that alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.

Other boating safety tips include:

• Take a boating safety course.
• Keep emergency equipment on board.
• Use engine cut-off switches when operating a boat.

Build Water Skills for All Ages

Swimming skills are important, but they are only one layer of protection. The AAP emphasizes that no single strategy prevents drowning, and layers of protection from the many tips listed above work best when applied together.

• Enroll children in professional swimming lessons when they’re ready.
• Practice floating and basic water safety skills.
• Encourage adults to refresh swimming skills if needed. Nearly one in six adults in the United States, or 16.3%, say they are unable to swim. In Louisiana, that number is even higher at 17.2%.
• Remember, even strong swimmers should take precautions when alone

Water Safety Matters

Time on the water is one of the joys of summertime in southeast Louisiana, whether that’s with loved ones, friends, or alone. By staying alert, planning ahead, and making safety a priority, you can help protect yourself and the people you love most.

Taking these simple steps today can prevent a tragedy tomorrow and keep everyone safe all season long.

___

Want more summer safety tips? Read our ultimate summer safety checklist here.

Learn more about pediatric care at North Oaks here.

Don’t have a North Oaks Health provider? Find one here.