← Back to full guide | Tip: print it and put it on the fridge, or tuck it in the swim bag so the rules travel with you

Non-Swimmer Water Safety Checklist

A child who can’t swim yet needs layers of protection, not luck. Stack every layer below — and keep building toward the one that removes the risk for good: swimming skill.

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

👁️ Supervision (the layer that responds in real time)

  • Stay within arm’s reach (touch supervision) any time your non-swimmer is in or near water.
  • Name one Water Watcher when other adults are around — no phone, no book, no conversation — and hand the role off in shifts.
  • Never assume “someone’s watching.” A crowd is when supervision falls through the cracks.
  • Know the real signs of drowning — it’s quiet and fast, not splashing and shouting.

🏡 Barriers at Home (buy back the seconds)

  • Four-sided isolation fence (4+ ft) around any pool, separating it from the house.
  • Self-closing, self-latching gate that opens outward — test that it latches every time.
  • Alarms on doors that lead to water, and keep bathroom and laundry doors closed.
  • Empty and flip buckets, wading pools, and coolers right after use.
  • Never leave a non-swimmer alone near a bathtub — not even for a moment.

🦺 The Right Gear (flotation that actually works)

  • Use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket sized to your child’s weight and fitted snugly.
  • Test the fit: lift at the shoulders — it shouldn’t ride up over the chin or ears.
  • Skip puddle jumpers and water wings — they’re toys, not safety devices, and teach an upright, chin-up habit.
  • A life jacket never replaces a watching adult — it’s one layer, not the whole plan.

📋 Water Rules to Teach

  • “Never go near water without a grown-up” — and always ask first.
  • Stay where you can stand or where the adult says — no wandering into deep water.
  • No running or pushing near the pool.
  • “Reach or throw, don’t go” — if a friend is struggling, get an adult; don’t jump in.

🏅 Build the Skill (the layer that removes the risk)

  • Enroll in formal swim lessons — they cut drowning risk by up to 88% for kids ages 1–4.
  • Choose a safety-first program that teaches floating, rolling to breathe, and reaching the wall first.
  • Keep going year-round — skills fade without practice, and swimming is the only layer that travels everywhere.
  • Learn CPR — the last layer of protection if every other one fails.

Our Non-Swimmer Plan — Fill This In

Water Watcher (shift 1): _________
Water Watcher (shift 2): _________
Life jacket checked & fits: ______
Nearest phone / exit: ___________
Emergency number: _____________
Swim lessons start date: ________

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

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, American Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard

Back to the full guide · Floaties & puddle jumpers · Five layers of protection

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The One Layer That Removes the Risk

Supervision, barriers, and life jackets all buy time — swimming skill is what protects your child in the moment. Formal swim lessons reduce drowning risk by up to 88% for children ages 1–4. Find a quality, safety-first program near you.

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