Enroll children, including very young children, in water survival swim lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends considering swim lessons starting as early as age 1. Swim lessons should emphasize water safety and be taught by qualified instructors in a warm and nurturing manner. 

Water safety for young children includes learning how to roll over and float, how to make a safe entry and exit, how to tread water, and how to hold their breath. Many kids who can swim are unable to float but floating on the back means the child is visible and can breathe. Don’t believe that knowing how to doggy paddle is okay. It is not an effective stroke and is inefficient and tiring.

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Older children and adults should learn to swim well enough to meet the American Red Cross standards for water competency and be able to:

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• Step or jump into water over the head.

• Return to the surface and float or tread water for one minute.

• Turn around in a full circle and find an exit.

• Swim 25 yards to the exit.

• Exit from the water without using a ladder.

If you have any questions or additional information that you think could be helpful to this page or drowning prevention in general, please do not hesitate to contact the SWIM ON Foundation.