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Splash Smart: Keeping Summer Water Fun & Safe

Summer is here—and that means cannonballs, pool noodles, beach days, and kids who somehow stay wet from sunrise to sunset. Whether you’re headed to the pool, lake, river, or just the backyard sprinkler, water is at the heart of family fun. But while splashing and swimming make some of the best summer memories, a little water safety know-how helps make sure those memories stay happy ones.

The good news? Water safety doesn’t have to feel scary or strict. With a few smart habits, clear rules, and lots of supervision, families can enjoy the water with confidence. From toddlers testing their floaties to teens racing across the deep end, water safety is all about being prepared—so the only surprise is how cold the water feels when you jump in!

This month’s expert is Maria Cadieux. She has been a swim instructor for almost 30 years! She was the Waterfront Director for three years at Camp Jericho prior to graduating from college, coached a local swim team for six years, and is currently a swim instructor at the Plattsburgh YMCA. She feels it’s important to expose children to the water from a young age and begin practices early that can prevent future danger around water.

Maria, how common are drownings and what do they really look like?

Drowning is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for children ages 1-4, with most occurring in home pools. Drowning in ages 5-17 is the third leading cause of death, and more of those occur in natural water. For the number of drowning deaths, there are twice as many near-fatal drownings.

Drowning is silent. Lifeguards call it the “drowning position” but it can also look like treading water. The main indicator is a vertical body position, combined with a kick that looks like running or riding a bicycle, arms reaching up as if they are climbing a ladder and bobbing up and down. This is also where the silence comes in. Someone who is drowning is desperately trying to get air, so if at any time they get their mouth above water, they will be trying to breathe in, not yelling for help.

How do we need to prepare differently for pools vs. beaches?


Visibility is the biggest difference between pools and beaches. There are many swimsuit colors that you can easily see in a pool but at the beach, that child will be invisible underwater.

Another issue with visibility is being able to see the bottom. It is obvious in a pool where the shallow and deep ends are, but in swimming holes, rivers and lakes, you cannot determine the depth, or what is under the surface. If you cannot see the bottom, enter with feet first only.

What can we do at home/around pools to ensure they are as safe as possible?

Enclose backyard pools with locked fences, remove pool ladders when not in use, and install a security alarm on gates. There are also new pool alarms that can alert you to someone falling in the pool. I also suggest having a long pole nearby to have in case someone is struggling and needs to be assisted to the side. Make sure to store pool toys and floaties away from the pool. If they are left in the pool, a child could fall in trying to reach them.

What should we teach children to keep them as safe as possible?

Remind your children to never go in/around water alone and do not turn your back on them. If your children use any kind of flotation device, ensure that they should not remove it themselves. It is also good to teach children to float on their backs to rest, rather than trying to stand up. 

What are the biggest mistakes people make in and around water?

  • Overestimating their swimming ability in deep or open water. If you are used to swimming in a pool, do not assume you will have that same experience in natural bodies of water (oceans, rivers, swimming holes).
  • Entering a body of water to help someone that is struggling. Unless you are trained to do a water rescue, entering the water is the last thing anyone should do. Unfortunately, this can result in two drownings.
  • Swimming alone. Even the best swimmer will drown if they have a medical emergency or hit their head and fall into a body of water.
  • Holding their breath under water. For many this is may seem like a normal thing to do, and it is the first thing they are taught. Holding your breath under water can increase panic and will not allow you to get a fresh breath of air when resurfacing.


Top 3 things to remember:

  1. Drowning is silent and can happen in an instant. Always stay alert and do not turn your back to the water when supervising.
  2. Never leave children unattended near water.
  3. If you cannot see the bottom of the body of water, do not enter headfirst.










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