Family Pool Safety Audit Checklist

Audit your pool — barriers, alarms, supervision, emergency prep, and more

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Review annually, before pool season opens, and any time a new child visits your home.

Date of audit:

Pool type:

Youngest swimmer's age:

Next audit due:

🔒 Barriers & Fencing

Four-sided isolation fence — pool is surrounded on all 4 sides, separating it from the house and yard. This is the single most effective drowning prevention measure.
Fence is at least 4 feet tall — ideally 5+ feet. According to the CDC, pool fencing prevents up to 50% of childhood drownings.
No climbable footholds — fence has no horizontal rails, furniture, or objects that a child could use as a step.
Vertical slats are less than 4 inches apart — prevents a child from squeezing through gaps.
Self-closing, self-latching gate — the gate closes and latches automatically. Latch is at least 54 inches high or on the pool side.
No gap under the fence — less than 4 inches between the ground and the bottom of the fence at all points.
All gates latch and close securely — physically test every gate. No gates propped open with rocks, toys, or other items.

Pool alarm is installed and tested — surface wave, subsurface, or wristband alarm. Test the alarm today to confirm it works.
Door alarm on all house-to-pool doors — any door from the house that leads to the pool area has a door alarm set to alert when opened.
Safety drain covers are in place — anti-entrapment drain covers installed. Outdated drain covers cause hair and limb entrapment. Replace any non-compliant covers.
Rescue equipment within reach — a reaching pole (at least 12 feet), life ring with rope, and/or rescue hook are mounted at the pool edge.
Pool cover is safety-rated — if you use a pool cover, it is a powered safety cover that can support an adult's weight. Soft covers and solar blankets are NOT safety devices.
Suction/entrapment hazards checked — main drain covers are secure, dual drains are present in pools built after 2007 (Virginia Graeme Baker Act compliance).

Designated Water Watcher for every swim session — one adult is always the dedicated watcher with no phone, no book, no distractions. Rotate every 15-20 minutes with a "Water Watcher" lanyard or sign.
Touch supervision for children under 5 — for non-swimmers and children under 5, an adult must be within arm's reach at all times while in or near water.
Life jackets for non-swimmers — all non-swimmers and weak swimmers wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved Type II or III life jacket. No water wings or swim floaties as substitutes.
"No swimming alone" rule enforced — children never swim alone, even strong swimmers. A buddy and an adult watcher are always present.
Pool rules are posted and reviewed — a list of pool rules (no running, no diving in shallow end, stay within boundaries) is posted and reviewed with every child before swimming.
No breath-holding games — hyperventilation and extended breath-holding drills are banned. These cause shallow water blackout, a leading cause of pool deaths in older children.

At least one adult knows CPR — every family with a pool should have a current CPR certification. Hands-only CPR training takes under 2 hours.
Emergency numbers posted at the pool — 911, local fire/rescue, poison control (1-800-222-1222), and your home address are posted at the pool in a waterproof holder.
Phone accessible at all times — a phone capable of calling 911 is always within reach of the water watcher. Never leave the pool to get a phone if a child is missing.
All family members know the response plan — every adult caregiver knows: what to do if a child goes missing, how to call 911, and how to perform rescue breathing.
Check the pool first rule is known — in any "child missing" situation, the pool is ALWAYS checked first, immediately, before looking anywhere else.
First aid kit is stocked and accessible — a well-stocked first aid kit is within 30 seconds of the pool area and everyone knows where it is.

Pool depth markers are visible — depth markers are clearly posted at every depth change. "No diving" is marked in shallow areas.
Water is clear — you can see the bottom of the deepest end clearly. Cloudy water prevents seeing a child in distress underwater.
Pool chemicals are stored safely — pool chemicals are stored in their original containers, in a cool dry place, away from children's reach and away from each other to prevent reactions.
No toys left in or near pool when not in use — toys attract curious children. Remove all pool toys when swimming is done and the pool area is closed.
Deck is slip-resistant and hazard-free — pool deck is clear of tripping hazards, slip-resistant, and free of broken materials that could cause falls into water.
Lighting is adequate for evening swimming — if your pool is used at night, underwater and deck lighting is bright enough to see every swimmer clearly.

Swim lessons reduce risk but never eliminate it — lessons lower drowning risk by up to 88% in young children (AAP). Active supervision is always required, even for swimmers.
Drowning is fast and silent — a child can drown in 20-60 seconds. Drowning victims do not splash or call for help. Know the signs: vertical in water, head tilted back, glassy eyes, inability to call out.
Layer your protection — no single barrier is enough. Fencing + alarms + life jackets + CPR + swim lessons together create the strongest protection.
Update your checklist when circumstances change — new child visiting, new swimmer in the family, after a storm, or after any pool maintenance. Re-audit any time conditions change.