Water Safety for Middle and High Schools

What changes for older students

Teens swim with friends, travel, go to lakes and beaches, and sometimes take risks to impress each other. The messages shift from "ask a grown-up" to good judgment: knowing the water, wearing a life jacket, saying no to dares and alcohol, and getting help without becoming a second victim.

For children ages 5 to 14, which includes most middle schoolers, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes (CDC, Drowning Facts).

Topics that matter most

• Open water is different. Currents, cold water, drop-offs and distance can make lakes, rivers and oceans harder than a pool. The National Weather Service advises swimming only at a beach with lifeguards, checking the local beach forecast and talking to the lifeguard (NWS, Rip Currents).
• Life jackets on boats, for everyone. The CDC says life jackets reduce the risk of drowning while boating for people of all ages and swimming abilities (CDC).
• No alcohol around water. The CDC advises avoiding alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities, and notes that alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination (CDC).
• No breath-holding games, contests or dares. The CDC's advice is direct: "Do not hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold your breath underwater for long periods of time. This can cause you to pass out and drown." (CDC, Preventing Drowning). A 2015 CDC report on dangerous underwater breath-holding in New York State (1988 to 2011) found that in all four deaths, the people who died were known to be advanced to expert swimmers, so being a strong swimmer does not make these behaviors safe (CDC MMWR, 2015).
• Help without becoming a victim. Shout for help and call 911, then reach or throw something that floats from a safe spot on land. Do not go in after someone: the American Red Cross rule is "reach or throw, don't go" (American Red Cross). In-water rescue is for lifeguards and other trained rescuers. Learning CPR helps; the CDC notes CPR skills could save someone's life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive (CDC).

A one-period lesson outline

About 45 minutes, on dry land, for health, PE or advisory.

1. Warm-up (5 min): students write down one place they swim or boat in summer, and one risk they think is there.
2. Myth check (10 min): true or false: "Drowning is loud." "Strong swimmers don't need life jackets on a boat." "Water wings and pool floaties keep kids safe." Discuss each one using the CDC (Preventing Drowning) and the AAP (HealthyChildren.org).
3. Reach, throw, don't go (10 min): in pairs, practice reaching with a pole or throwing a rope from a "shore" taped on the classroom or gym floor, staying low and back from the tape line, toward a target or a bag; no student plays a person in the water. Explain why students never go in after someone. The Red Cross puts it plainly: "Don't go in! You could become a victim yourself." (American Red Cross South Florida, 2023). In-water rescue is for lifeguards and other trained rescuers.
4. Scenarios (15 min): small groups plan what they would do: a friend dares them to swim across a lake; (grades 9 to 12 only) someone at a party has been drinking and wants to swim; a younger child slips under at a pool and no adult is nearby. Steer every answer to shouting for help, calling 911 and reaching or throwing something that floats from a safe spot, without entering the water: "reach or throw, don't go" (American Red Cross). In the debrief, point out that watching younger children near water is an adult's job. Going in is not an option for students; it is for lifeguards and other trained rescuers.
5. Exit ticket (5 min): one thing they will do differently this summer, and who they would call in an emergency.

The American Red Cross teaching resources page lists an educator toolkit and a K–12 scope and sequence; its free outreach resources require Aquatic Leader registration (American Red Cross).

From water safety to a first job

A pool, camp or beach can be a great first job. Certifying organizations set their own minimum ages and swim tests. For example, the American Red Cross says its lifeguarding students must be at least 15 years old by the last day of class and pass a swimming skills test (American Red Cross, Lifeguarding). Students should confirm current requirements with the provider they choose.

Trips, clubs and athletics

• Any trip with swimming or boating follows your district's aquatics and field trip policy, with written family permission.
• Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, and keep staff supervising too. The CDC advises close supervision even when lifeguards are present (CDC).
• Life jackets for every student on any boat, kayak or paddleboard.
• No hyperventilating before going underwater and no long underwater breath-holds (CDC), which rules out breath-holding games, contests and dares, for every student on every trip, club outing and team practice.
• Know who calls 911 and who on staff is CPR-trained.

Teaching health, PE or advisory?

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