5 Things You Can Do to Prevent Drowning in Open Water:

  1. Assign an adult to constantly watch children around water. Stay in arms reach and do not get distracted.
  2. Learn to float. Learn basic swimming skills. Never swim alone.
  3. Wear a US Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD/life vest/life jacket) in and around open water, on docks, and on boats. Some PFDs come with an ocean/marine whistle. If yours doesn’t, consider buying one and attaching it to the life vest.
  4. Swim near a lifeguard whenever possible. The chance of drowning around a properly trained lifeguard is 1 in 18 million, according to the US Lifesaving Association.
  5. Learn CPR with rescue breaths.​
Flip, Float, Follow water safety poster

What do you do if you are ever caught in water above your head?

Flip • Float • Follow

The most important thing to remember when drowning is to stay calm; panicking will cause you to drown faster.

  • Flip onto your back to get your mouth above water.
  • Float to breathe and calm your body.
  • Follow the current until you can safely exit or be rescued.

FLIP, FLOAT, and FOLLOW will be even easier and more effective if you are wearing a US Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device/Life Jacket (PFD).

Wearing brightly colored swimwear and PFDs will also make it easier to be seen by rescuers.