Drowning is a leading cause of death in children and teens. It happens fast and is usually silent. Be sure to use many types of protection to protect kids from drowning. You never know which one will save a life.

Among young children, most drownings happen in home pools or hot tubs. In teens, drowning is more likely to happen in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Take these precautions:

Assign a Water Watcher

There should always be an adult water watcher (at least 16 years old) while children are in and around a pool or any body of water. At a party, have adults take turns as water watcher. Even if a lifeguard is on duty, a water watcher also should watch kids.

The water watcher should:

• always keep their eyes on kids who are in the water, even older children who can swim
• be within an arm's length of young children and beginner swimmers
• avoid distractions like using a cellphone, socializing, or drinking alcohol
• have a way to call for help if needed
• have a flotation device and/or reaching object that can be used for a rescue

Use Fences/Alarms/Covers

To keep children safe near pools and hot tubs:

• All pools (including above-ground pools) and hot tubs should have a 4 foot or higher fence around them with a self-closing, locked gate. A child should not be able to get over, under, or through the fence.
• Have door and window alarms that chime when opened to alert a parent that a child is going outside (inexpensive, simple alarms are available online) and pool alarms that go off when someone enters the pool.
• If you can't put a fence around a pool or hot tub, be sure to securely cover them when you aren't using them. The cover should not have any standing water on it. 
• If your house has doors that lead directly into a pool or hot tub area, these should be self-closing and self-locking so that children can't open them.

Have Kids Take Swim Lessons

Schedule swimming lessons for kids older than 1 year old. Swim lessons do not replace the need for a water watcher and other safety precautions, but learning to swim makes drowning less likely. Check with your local recreation centers or search the Red Cross website for classes taught by a qualified instructor. Ask about free or reduced-rate lessons. If you don't know how to swim, consider taking lessons too.

Learn CPR

Every parent should know how and when to do CPR. It brings blood to the heart, brain, and other organs and starts breathing until health care providers can give a person advanced life support. Done correctly, CPR can save a person's life. Search the Red Cross website for classes taught by a qualified instructor.

Use Life Jackets

Children and adults should wear Coast Guard–approved life jackets while on a boat (even if they can swim). This will help protect them from drowning if they are suddenly thrown into the water. Water wings and other "floaties" do not protect children from drowning. Life jackets and "floaties" should be used along with — not instead of — adult supervision.

No Alcohol or Drugs

Do not use alcohol and/or drugs while driving a boat, acting as a water watcher, or swimming. Alcohol use increases the risk of drowning while swimming or boating.

Home Safety

To prevent drownings in and around your home:

• Put locks on bathroom doors and toilets. Do not let babies or toddlers be in a bathroom alone.
• Never leave a baby or toddler alone in the bath. If you must leave the bath area, wrap your baby in a towel and bring them with you.
• Never leave a bathtub, bucket, baby pool, or other container filled with water or other liquid unattended.

Talk to Teens

Even teens who are strong swimmers are at risk of drowning. Be sure your teen knows how to swim. And talk to them about never swimming alone, only swimming where a trained lifeguard is on duty, and never drinking alcohol or using drugs while near or in water.