Where can you get CPR for kids training — free or low-cost?
CPR for kids training comes in two forms: a pediatric CPR course for parents (learning to do CPR on a child or infant) and hands-only CPR training for kids themselves. Free CPR training for kids is most often run by local fire departments, hospitals, Red Cross and American Heart Association community events, and schools; certified classes typically run about $60–$120 and take a few hours, with shorter non-certification options for less.
CPR training for parents: which course covers kids?
Book a course that names children and infants in its title. The American Red Cross offers Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, and the American Heart Association offers Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED. The AHA's Family & Friends CPR is a shorter, cheaper, non-certification option that still teaches child and infant technique — often the best fit for grandparents and babysitters. Avoid listings that just say "CPR/AED" unless they confirm infant and child skills are included. Our guide to finding a CPR class for kids walks through the vetting questions.
Where to find free CPR training for kids and parents
- Fire departments and EMS agencies — many run free community CPR sessions, especially in spring and early summer. Note that a free hands-only session is awareness training, not a full pediatric course — drowning CPR in children needs rescue breaths too.
- Hospitals and children's hospitals — infant CPR classes are frequently free or discounted for new and expecting parents.
- Red Cross chapters and AHA community events — free awareness sessions and subsidized certification for eligible families.
- Schools and parks departments — the American Heart Association reports that about 40 states plus Washington, D.C. now require CPR training for high school graduation, so many districts run training kids can join.
- Libraries, YMCAs and community centers — look for free weekend sessions on the events calendar.
Can kids learn CPR themselves?
Yes. According to the American Heart Association, children as young as 9 can learn and retain CPR skills, and there is no minimum age to learn — the limit is body strength, not age. Younger children can still learn the two steps that matter most: recognize an emergency and call 911. Teens are strong enough for effective compressions, and older kids can learn rescue breaths as well — which matters for drowning, where the problem is lack of oxygen. For the technique itself, see CPR basics every pool parent must know and how CPR differs for kids and adults.
Why Are Free Water Safety Resources So Important?
Free water safety resources save lives by making drowning prevention education accessible to every family, regardless of income. Water safety education should never be out of reach. Yet drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1–4, and many communities lack the funding for comprehensive swim lessons or safety training. That's where free resources come in. Organizations dedicated to drowning prevention have spent years developing evidence-based materials that are ready to use—no cost, no permission barriers.
According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1–4, with approximately 970 children dying from drowning annually in the United States. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cites research showing that formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children ages 1–4. These statistics underscore why making water safety education freely accessible to every community is critical. Our own free child drowning statistics dashboard compiles the latest national and state-level figures in one place.
Whether you're a parent wanting to teach your child, an educator needing classroom water safety activities, a swim instructor searching for handouts, or a community organizer planning water safety events, these free resources can fill gaps and amplify your impact. Let's explore the organizations and materials that make water safety accessible to everyone.
What Free Water Safety Resources Does the American Red Cross Offer?
The American Red Cross offers free online water safety courses, printable guides, educational videos, and community training programs for all skill levels. The American Red Cross has been synonymous with water safety for over a century. Their free offerings are extensive and cover every skill level.
Free Online Courses: The Red Cross offers free water safety awareness modules you can complete online. These courses cover fundamentals like water entry, floating, and response techniques. While they don't replace hands-on swim instruction, they build foundational knowledge.
Downloadable Guides: Visit redcross.org to find printable water safety fact sheets, checklists, and parent guides. Topics include backyard pool safety, water safety for children with disabilities, and boating safety.
Educational Videos: The Red Cross YouTube channel features short, shareable videos on CPR, water rescue techniques, and drowning recognition. These are perfect for schools, community events, or sharing with family.
Community Training: Many local Red Cross chapters offer free or subsidized CPR training and water safety demonstrations in your area. Contact your regional chapter to ask what's available.
What Free Drowning Prevention Materials Does the CDC Provide?
The CDC provides free, peer-reviewed drowning prevention curricula for K–12 classrooms, downloadable posters and infographics, and professional webinars grounded in epidemiological research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on data-driven prevention. Their free resources emphasize what research shows actually works.
Drowning Prevention Curricula: The CDC provides free classroom curricula on drowning prevention for teachers. These are peer-reviewed, age-appropriate, and aligned with health education standards. Grades K–12 materials are available.
Print Materials: Download free posters, infographics, and fact sheets from cdc.gov/drowningprevention. Topics include water safety for different age groups, recognizing drowning signs, and supervision best practices.
Webinars and Training: The CDC hosts free webinars for professionals, parents, and educators. These provide deep dives into epidemiology, intervention strategies, and community approaches.
What Free Resources Does Safe Kids Worldwide Offer?
Safe Kids Worldwide provides free downloadable checklists, annual Water Safety Month campaign toolkits, social media graphics, and grant programs for community swim lesson initiatives. Safe Kids focuses on making safety practical and accessible for families. Their free offerings emphasize hands-on, community-level prevention.
Water Safety Checklists: Safe Kids offers free downloadable checklists for backyard pools, public beaches, lakes, and boating. Print them and share with neighbors and friends.
Educational Campaigns: Their annual Water Safety Month (May) includes free campaign materials, social media graphics, and event toolkits you can use to raise awareness in your community.
Grant Programs: While not resources in the traditional sense, Safe Kids chapters often have funding for community swim lesson programs. Contact your local chapter to learn about subsidized lesson opportunities.
What Free Materials Does the NDPA Provide for Drowning Prevention?
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) offers free downloadable guides, community event toolkits, presentation templates, and evidence-based educational videos for organizations and schools. NDPA brings together drowning prevention researchers, medical professionals, and advocates. Their free materials are evidence-focused.
Educational Materials: NDPA offers free downloadable guides on lifeguard training, CPR for aquatic professionals, and family water safety planning. Their resources emphasize the latest research in drowning prevention.
Community Toolkits: Access free event planning materials, presentation templates, and educational videos designed for community organizations and schools.
Which Specialized Organizations Offer Free Water Safety Programs?
Josh the Baby Otter: This program provides free, animated water safety lessons for preschoolers and early elementary students. The stories and characters make learning fun and memorable. Teachers and parents can stream videos and download activity sheets at no cost.
Stop Drowning Now: This organization focuses on community education and offers free training resources, especially for high-risk populations. They provide materials in multiple languages and address cultural differences in water safety approaches.
Colin's Hope: Founded by a family who lost a child to drowning, Colin's Hope provides free CPR training, water safety materials, and support for drowning survivor families. They also offer free resources for water safety awareness events.
Where Can You Find Free CPR and Water Safety Training?
Many communities offer free or low-cost CPR certification and water safety training through libraries, community centers, and public health departments. Many communities offer free or low-cost CPR certification and water safety training through libraries, community centers, and public health departments. Call ahead to find what's available in your area. (See CPR for kids training at the top of this guide for course names and free sources.)
Red Cross Certification: Some Red Cross chapters subsidize or offer free CPR certification for parents, teachers, and community members. Ask about income-based assistance programs.
Lifeguard Training: If you're interested in becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor, many pools and community colleges offer sliding-scale or free training programs for those who qualify.
Finding a class that covers children: the free and low-cost community courses are worth seeking out, but check the course name before you commit. “Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED” is what a parent needs; a plain “CPR/AED” or “Heartsaver” listing is often adult-only and skips infant technique. Our guide to finding a CPR class for kids lists the six local sources that commonly run the certification free, and the five questions to ask before booking. For the technique itself, see CPR basics every pool parent must know and what changes between CPR for kids and adults.
How Can You Use Free Water Safety Resources in Your Community?
Share CDC curricula with schools, distribute Red Cross printables at daycares and community centers, and partner with local pools for water safety demonstrations. Once you've found materials that fit your needs, here are practical ways to use them:
In Schools: Share CDC curricula with teachers and school administrators. Many are already approved for classroom use and require no special permission.
In Childcare Settings: Daycares and preschools can implement age-appropriate water safety lessons using Josh the Baby Otter or Safe Kids materials. These often integrate seamlessly into existing health curricula.
For community pool safety events: Work with your local pool or recreation department to host water safety demonstrations. Red Cross and Safe Kids materials are designed for easy sharing.
As a Parent: Print materials and share with your network. Many parents don't know free resources exist—your word-of-mouth advocacy can spread awareness throughout your community.
Are There Free Swim Lesson Grants Available for Families?
Yes — organizations like Stop Drowning Now, the United States Swim School Association (USSSA), and many municipal recreation departments offer grants and scholarships for swim lessons in underserved communities. While not all "resources" are materials, access to free or subsidized swim lessons is critical. Several organizations offer grant programs:
Stop Drowning Now Grants: This organization has funding specifically for lesson programs in underserved communities. Apply through their website—grants are competitive but can provide significant support.
USSSA Community Programs: The United States Swim School Association tracks member schools offering scholarship and grant programs. Check their website for schools in your area.
Municipal Recreation Programs: Many public pools offer reduced-cost or scholarship lessons. Contact your city or county recreation department to learn what's available.
For families seeking personalized water safety planning, these grant programs can make professional instruction accessible.
What Free Water Safety Apps and Online Tools Are Available?
The American Red Cross CPR app, YouTube channels from the CDC and Safe Kids, and social media campaigns from major nonprofits provide free digital water safety education. Several organizations offer free apps and online platforms:
Red Cross CPR App: The official Red Cross CPR app walks you through hands-only CPR steps with visual guides. Free to download.
Water Safety Videos: YouTube channels from Red Cross, CDC, and Safe Kids offer hundreds of free videos on every water safety topic. Create playlists to share with friends and family.
Social Media Campaigns: Follow organizations like Safe Kids, Stop Drowning Now, and Red Cross on social media for daily tips, shareable graphics, and event announcements.
How Can You Maximize the Impact of Free Water Safety Resources?
Combine multiple sources — CDC curricula for classroom foundations, Red Cross videos for engagement, and Safe Kids checklists for family planning — and share generously with your community. Free doesn't mean less effective. These materials come from organizations with decades of expertise and evidence-based approaches. To maximize their value:
Combine multiple sources: Use CDC curricula for classroom foundation, Red Cross videos for engagement, and Safe Kids checklists for practical family planning.
Share generously: Print materials aren't just for you. Leave them at daycares, libraries, community centers, and pool areas where other families will see them.
Customize for your context: Most materials are editable. Add your community name, local pool information, or cultural details to make them more relevant.
Update annually: Water safety research evolves. Check these organizations' sites once a year to access new materials and updated guidance.
How Do You Build a Comprehensive Water Safety Plan Using Free Resources?
Start by assessing your needs, then layer age-appropriate education, CPR training, supervision checklists, and drowning recognition resources from trusted organizations like the CDC, Red Cross, and NDPA. With these free resources at your fingertips, you can build a robust water safety strategy for your family or organization. Start by assessing your needs: Are you teaching young children? Training lifeguards? Raising community awareness? Then select materials that directly address those goals.
Combine CPR instruction resources with swim lesson information, pair supervision checklists with drowning recognition training, and layer in age-appropriate education for each child in your life.
The organizations and resources listed here are trusted partners in drowning prevention. They've made their expertise freely available because they believe every family deserves access to water safety education. Your role is to use them, share them, and build your community's water safety culture—together.
📚 Authoritative Sources
- American Red Cross — Water Safety: free water safety courses, printable guides, and educational videos.
- CDC — Drowning Facts: data-driven drowning prevention guidance and free print materials.
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance: free downloadable guides and community event toolkits.
- American Academy of Pediatrics: water safety guidance for parents of young children.
