Babysitter & Caregiver Water Safety Checklist

Give this to anyone watching your kids near water — babysitters, grandparents, nannies, relatives

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Parents: fill in the shaded sections before handing this to your caregiver.

Parent Fills In Before Handing Off

Child's name(s):

Child's age(s):

Swim ability:

Life jacket required?

Parent phone:

Backup contact:

Home address (for 911):

Allergies/medical:

Confirm swim ability — ask the parent what each child can and cannot do. Never assume a child can swim based on age alone.
Put life jackets on non-swimmers — Coast Guard-approved Type II or III only. No water wings, puddle jumpers, or pool noodles as substitutes.
Check the pool gate and fence — make sure the gate latches behind you. Keep it closed at all times, even when kids are swimming.
Remove toys from the pool area when not swimming — toys attract curious children back to the water when you're not ready.
Know where rescue equipment is — locate the reaching pole, life ring, or rescue hook before swimming starts.
Establish pool rules with the kids — no running, no pushing, no diving in shallow end, no breath-holding games, stay where you can see me.

YOU are the Water Watcher — your only job is watching the children. No phone, no reading, no napping, no cooking. Eyes on the water 100% of the time.
Stay within arm's reach of children under 5 — touch supervision means close enough to grab them instantly. Not from a lounge chair.
Count heads every 30 seconds — know exactly how many children should be in view. If you lose count, stop everything and recount immediately.
Know what drowning looks like — it is SILENT. No splashing, no screaming, no waving. Look for: vertical body, head tilted back, mouth at water level, glassy eyes, inability to call out.
No child goes back in without you knowing — after a break, bathroom trip, or snack, children must ask before re-entering the water.
Enforce the buddy system — no one swims alone, ever. If one buddy leaves the water, both leave.

Child missing? CHECK THE POOL FIRST. Before looking anywhere else in the house or yard, check the bottom of the pool and spa immediately. Seconds count.
Child in trouble in water? Reach, throw, don't go. Use a pole, towel, or rope. Do NOT jump in unless you are a trained rescuer — panicking victims can pull you under.
Call 911 immediately — tell them the address (written at the top of this sheet), what happened, and how many children are involved.
Start CPR if not breathing — if you know CPR, begin rescue breaths and chest compressions. If you don't, the 911 operator will guide you. Do NOT stop until help arrives.
Call the parent right away — even for minor incidents (child swallowed water, hit their head, needed rescue). Parents must always be informed immediately.

All children out of the water and accounted for — do a final headcount. No child left behind, even briefly.
Close and latch the pool gate — make sure it latches securely. Children can wander back to the pool when you're not expecting it.
Remove all toys from the pool and deck — toys attract children back to an unsupervised pool.
Watch for delayed symptoms for 1-2 hours — persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, vomiting, or behavior changes after swimming require immediate medical attention. Call 911 if in doubt.

Drowning takes 20-60 seconds and is completely silent — you will not hear it. You must see it. That's why eyes-on-water supervision is non-negotiable.
Swim lessons reduce risk but do not eliminate it — even children who swim well can get tired, panicked, or caught in a current. Supervision is always required.
Bathtubs and kiddie pools count — a child can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Never leave a child under 5 unattended near any water, including the bathtub.