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Grandparent Water Safety Checklist

A one-page reference for grandparents supervising grandchildren near pools, lakes, bathtubs, and beaches — whether at your home, their home, or on vacation.

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Check each box as you complete it. Keep on the fridge, in the pool bag, or save to your phone as a PDF.

Before the Grandkids Arrive (Pre-Visit Prep)

  • Ask the parents about each child's swim ability. Get a specific answer — not "they can swim." Ask: Can they swim 25 yards unassisted? Can they float on their back? Are they comfortable submerging their face? Each answer changes your supervision plan.
  • Know each child's medical and allergy info. Inhalers, EpiPens, seizure protocols, and medication schedules. Write it down and keep it with your phone — not in your memory alone.
  • Confirm emergency contacts. Both parents' mobile numbers, the child's pediatrician, and the nearest urgent care or ER. Store in your phone before the visit begins.
  • Check your CPR certification status. If it has been more than two years since your last refresher — or you have never taken a course — sign up at a local Red Cross, YMCA, or hospital. Child and infant CPR are separate skills from adult CPR.
  • Inspect the water environment. Walk every pool fence, latch, and gate. Test pool and door alarms. Secure drain covers. Confirm the bathtub has a non-slip mat. For visits to other homes or vacation rentals, do the same walk-through on arrival.
  • Set a "no-swim" default. Water access should be off by default — pool gate locked, bathroom doors closed, hot tub covered. The grandchildren swim only when you are actively supervising and ready.
  • Put the right life jackets on hand. USCG-approved, sized by weight, not water wings or floaties. Keep one for each child in the pool bag or by the pool.

During Water Time (Active Supervision)

  • Be the designated Water Watcher. No phone, no book, no side conversations, no cooking simultaneously. Eyes on the water for the full session. If you need a break, pass the Water Watcher role to another adult — verbally and clearly.
  • Use touch supervision for children under 5. Stay within arm's reach at all times. For non-swimmers of any age, the same rule applies. Watching from the deck is not supervision for this age group.
  • Do not rely on floaties, pool noodles, or arm bands. These toys give children a false sense of ability and can slip off. Only a properly fitted USCG-approved life jacket is a safety device.
  • Know what drowning actually looks like. Silent. No splashing. No yelling. The child's head low in the water, eyes glassy or closed, body vertical, arms weakly paddling. If you cannot see a child's face clearly for 10 seconds — check immediately.
  • No alcohol while on duty. Even one drink meaningfully reduces reaction time. Alcohol and Water Watcher duty do not overlap — save the glass of wine for after the children are out of the water and the pool gate is re-locked.
  • Count heads on a regular rhythm. Every 30 seconds if multiple children are in the water. Say each child's name out loud as you confirm them. This simple habit prevents the "I thought you were watching" gap.
  • Enforce the buddy system for older children. Children age 5+ can learn to swim with a buddy and check on each other — but this is a supplement to adult supervision, never a replacement.
  • Watch the bathtub as closely as the pool. Infants and toddlers can drown in less than an inch of water. Never leave a child under 4 alone in the tub — not even to answer the door or grab a towel.

Know the Age-Specific Risks

  • Infants & babies (under 1): Bathtub and bucket drownings. Never leave alone for any reason. Touch supervision at all times in any water — including shallow beach water.
  • Toddlers (1–4): The highest-risk age group for drowning. Backyard pool and unsecured water are the leading hazards. Four-sided isolation fencing, door alarms, and touch supervision are non-negotiable.
  • School age (5–9): Overconfidence is the risk. A child who swims a lap in a pool may not be ready for open water, deeper sections, or fatigue. Reassess swim ability in each new environment.
  • Tweens & teens (10+): Unsupervised open-water swimming, peer-pressure diving, cold-water shock, and alcohol (in older teens) become primary risks. Rules and presence still matter.

If Something Goes Wrong — Be Ready

  • Phone within arm's reach, not on silent. Keep a phone at poolside or bath-side whenever children are in water. Not to scroll — to call 911 without running back to find it.
  • Know the address you are at. Especially critical when visiting your grandchildren's home, a friend's pool, or a vacation rental. Write the full street address on a sticky note by the phone.
  • Rescue equipment within 30 seconds. Reaching pole, ring buoy with rope, and first-aid kit. For a home pool, mount them on the fence. For visits, know where the host keeps them.
  • Remember "Reach, Throw, Don't Go." If a child is struggling, reach out with a pole or arm from the deck first. Throw a flotation device second. Entering the water is a last resort — an untrained rescuer drowning alongside the victim is a common and tragic outcome.
  • If the child is unresponsive and out of the water: Call 911 (or have someone call). Begin CPR if trained. Do not delay compressions to call the parents — call the parents only once professional help is on the way.
  • After any near-miss or water inhalation: Watch for breathing changes, coughing, or unusual fatigue for the next 24 hours. Dry drowning is rare but real. If in doubt, call the pediatrician.

Created by WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Sources: CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard, National Drowning Prevention Alliance

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