5 ways to stay safe in water this summer

As temperatures rise across Central Texas, more families are heading to pools, lakes, rivers and splash pads to cool off for the summer. While water activities can create lifelong memories, the team at Dell Children's Medical Center say they can also become dangerous in a matter of seconds without the right precautions.

For children ages 1 to 4, drowning remains the leading cause of death, with most incidents happening in pools.^¹

That’s why Dell Children’s, through its Drowning Prevention & Water Safety Program, works year-round to educate families through community outreach, research and partnerships focused on reducing drowning risks across Central Texas.

“We really want families to understand that water safety is layered protection,” said Barbara Cosart, Injury Prevention Coordinator for the Dell Children’s Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Program. “Learning to swim and wearing a life jacket are important, but no single safety measure fully protects a child from drowning. All the layers work together to reduce risk.”

The risks families may not expect

One of the most important findings from Dell Children’s drowning research, led by Dr. Molly Johnson, Research Scientist for the Dell Children’s Drowning Prevention & Water Safety Program, involves what the research team has defined as “transition points” — times during recreation water activities when children are not expected to be in the water. [2]

These moments can happen while families are arriving at the pool, packing up to leave, changing clothes, or heading to snack time.

“Those are moments where parents may naturally let their guard down because they think their child is out of the water,” Dr. Johnson said. “But drowning is silent and happens in mere seconds, so caregivers must maintain close, constant, attentive supervision when their children are near water, not just when they are in it.”

Dell Children’s researchers found these brief lapses in supervision can quickly become dangerous, especially for young children.

The risks also change with age. [1]

For babies under age one year, drowning incidents most commonly happen in bathtubs, often during brief moments when a caregiver steps away to grab a towel or other bath item. For younger children, pools remain the highest-risk environment, while older children and teens face increasing risks in lakes, rivers and other natural bodies of water.

Unlike pools, open water environments can contain hidden currents, changing conditions and underwater hazards that may not be visible from the surface.

The five layers of protection

The Dell Children’s Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Program encourages families to use five layers of protection to help reduce drowning risks. [3]

1. Constant supervision

There is no substitute for active adult supervision around water. Staying within arm’s reach of young children and paying attention during transition moments around pools and lakes can help prevent water-related injuries.

2. Water competency

Learning to swim is important, but water safety skills go beyond swim strokes. Children should also learn how to float, self-rescue and safely reach the side of a pool.

3. Barriers and alarms

Four-sided isolation fencing around pools with self-closing and self-latching gates is recommended to help prevent children from unexpectedly accessing water.

4. Emergency preparedness

Every caregiver should know CPR with rescue breaths and have a plan in case of emergencies, including situations where a child unexpectedly goes missing.

5. Properly fitted life jackets

U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets should always be worn while boating and in unfamiliar or natural water environments. Families should ensure life jackets fit properly every time they are used.

Supporting children with autism around water

Dell Children’s also works closely with community organizations to improve swim safety education for children with autism, who face a significantly higher drowning risk through age 14 years.^⁴

According to research led by Cosart and Johnson, many children with autism are naturally drawn to water and may be more likely to wander or have a decreased sense of danger, which can increase risk around pools, lakes and other water environments.^⁴

To help address those challenges, Dell Children’s has partnered with organizations like the Autism Society of America and Autism Society of Texas to support more inclusive swim instruction across the community and connect families with water safety and wandering prevention resources.

Traditional swim lessons can sometimes feel overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities due to loud environments, large groups and constant activity. In addition, children with autism benefit from instruction that is personalized to their individual learning needs.

Through these partnerships, the program is helping area swim instructors better support children with autism and create safer, more accessible learning environments for families.

Helping families stay safe all summer long

At Dell Children’s, injury prevention teams hope families walk away with more than just swim safety tips. They hope families feel empowered with the knowledge to help keep their children safe around water all summer long.

Families can learn more about water safety resources and injury prevention programs through the Simply Safety Center at Dell Children’s and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.

References

1. Abedin A, Zane DF, Lawson KA, Johnson MB. Disparities in unintentional drowning fatalities in Texas, USA, 1999–2020. Injury Prevention. 2025;31(6):547-553.
2. Malla P, Johnson MB, Troy BM, Lawson KA. Characteristics of paediatric patients who experienced accidental drowning at transition points in recreational water activities. Injury Prevention. 2025.
3. Prevention of Drowning. Pediatrics. 2019 May;143(5).
4. Cosart BD, Lawson KA, Williams SR, Lewis KE, Namutebi R, Johnson MB. Parent perspectives on water safety for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2025.

This blog is intended for general informational use. Any health-related information shared is not meant to provide or replace professional medical advice and does not establish a patient-provider relationship. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.