Designate a water watcher when you are in, on, or around water.
Watch all children and adolescents swimming or playing in or around water, even if they know how to swim.
Young children or inexperienced swimmers need to be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times.
Make sure a responsible person constantly watches young children in the bath.
An Appropriate Water Watcher
  • Is at least 16 years of age (adults preferred).
  • Has the skills, knowledge, and ability to recognize and rescue someone in distress or can immediately alert someone nearby who has that capability. 
  • Knows CPR or can immediately alert someone nearby with that skill.
  • Has a working phone to be able to dial 9-1-1.
  • Has a floating and/or reaching object that can be used in a rescue.
  • Is alert and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Here's Why
More Information
  • A water watcher is not a substitute for a lifeguard. Choose a lifeguard protected area if possible, and designate a water watcher.
  • Prevention is the key role of a water watcher. Don’t wait for an emergency. Encourage safe activities and stop any unsafe or risky behaviors.
  • For any child who is a non-swimmer or lacks water competency skills, the water watcher should provide “touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times to grab the child.
  • Because drowning can be quick and quiet, the water watcher should pay constant attention, be undistracted, not be involved in any other activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.
  • Parents, caregivers, aquatic facility owners, managers and operators should use multiple “layers of protection” to ensure safety. Layers of protection include ensuring that:
             > everyone learns to swim;
             > unintended access to pools or other bodies of water is prevented by fencing or other barriers;
             > U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets are used to aid inexperienced swimmers;
             > all swimmers are closely, attentively, continuously, and redundantly supervised by water watchers and/or lifeguards;
             > persons with the knowledge, skills and ability to safely effect a water rescue and initiate CPR are on site; and,
             > emergency services can be alerted if needed (access to 911).
Resources
Media Advisory on Proper Terminology
Drowning is not always a fatal event. Some people die as a result of drowning, while others survive with serious, life-long injuries, or none at all. Thus, the term “drowning” should not be used to imply death. According to the World Health Organization: “Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid. Drowning outcomes are classified as death, morbidity and no morbidity. Agreed terminology is essential to describe the problem and to allow effective comparisons of drowning trends. Thus, this definition of drowning adopted by the 2002 World Congress on Drowning should be widely used.” 
About the Authors of this Document: Water Safety USA
Water Safety USA is a consortium of leading national governmental and nongovernmental organizations with a strong record of providing drowning prevention and water safety programs. Our mission is to empower people with resources, information, and tools to safely enjoy and benefit from our nation's aquatic environments. Our membership is as follows:

American Academy of Pediatrics
American Red Cross
Boy Scouts of America
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Park Service
National Safe Boating Council
National Swimming Pool Foundation
Safe Kids Worldwide
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
​United States Lifesaving Association
USA Swimming Foundation
YMCA of the USA