Before the Adventure Begins
Children can become separated from caregivers quickly in busy environments such as beaches, pools, water parks, festivals, and amusement parks. Before the fun begins, take a moment to make a family plan.
1. Never wander off alone. Young children should remain with their designated supervising adult.
2. Stay close and communicate loudly. Beaches and pools can be noisy. Make sure instructions and requests are actually heard.
3. Look, ask, and wait for an answer. Teach children not to assume that a caregiver heard them. Get close, make eye contact, ask permission, and wait for an answer before moving away.
4. Have a meeting point. Choose an easy-to-recognize landmark when you arrive.
5. Know what everyone is wearing. A quick photograph at the beginning of an outing can provide an up-to-date image showing a child’s clothing, hairstyle, and appearance that day.
6. If a child becomes separated, get help quickly. Notify lifeguards, venue staff, law enforcement, or other appropriate personnel and provide a clear description.
7. Teach children what to do if they become separated. Instructions should be appropriate for the child’s age and the environment. In general, children should know not to continue wandering in search of their family and should seek help from an appropriate trusted adult while remaining in a safe, visible location.
A Note About Visibility
Bright, high-contrast colors may make a child easier to describe and notice against certain backgrounds. Visibility is one layer of water safety. It does not replace active adult supervision, age-appropriate swim skills, properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when appropriate, lifeguards, barriers and secure pool access, family emergency planning, or knowledge of CPR and emergency response.
No swimsuit can prevent drowning. Please use visibility as one part of a larger family water-safety plan.
5 WATER-SAFETY REMINDERS FOR PARENTS
1. Designate a Water Watcher and get verbal confirmation the watcher knows they are "on duty"
2. Never assume a lifeguard is present, many times they are teens, they get distracted. they are one part of a larger effort. your child(ren) are not their only responsibility
3. Make your child easier to see - bright colors
4. Choose a life jacket, not a pool toy - make sure your things are certified
5. Don't let swimming ability create a false sense of security - water is unpredictable, and energy levels are not unlimited.
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