The summer months are creeping up on us! How is it already May? With school being released soon, parents are getting the pool ready and planning summer trips to the lake to keep the kiddos occupied and entertained. To beat the Texas summer heat, water is the place to be for many families.  

Unfortunately, this season is more prone to child drownings. While we encourage you to enjoy the days in the sun, we also urge you to prioritize safety. A child can drown in nearly any amount of water, and it only takes a few minutes for tragedy to strike. To fill your summer with happy and memorable moments, here are some swim safety tips for children. 

Child Drowning Statistics 

Child drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children under five in Texas. In 2024 alone, there were 103 reported fatal drownings and nearly seven times more non-fatal drownings. These non-fatal drownings are not without their own severe consequences, though, often leading to brain damage, long-term disabilities, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of motor functions. 

As we move into 2025, the situation remains alarming, with 15 child drownings already reported from various Texas counties. 

  • Bexar County has reported 3 pool drownings in children under the age of 16 years old. 
  • Caldwell County reported an infant drowning in a local pond. 
  • Comal County reported a young male drowning in the river. 
  • Dallas County reported a 2-year-old drowning in a pool. 
  • Ft. Bend County has reported an infant drowning in a backyard pool. 
  • Harris County has reported 3 drownings in children 6-11 years old. 
  • Hidalgo County reported an infant drowning in a backyard pool. 
  • Limestone County reported an infant drowning in the bathtub. 
  • Tarrant County has reported 2 drownings in children under 5 years old. 
  • Williamson County reported a 2-year-old female drowning in a backyard pool. 

It’s evident that young children are at risk of drowning in any amount of water, inside or outside. We hope to spread awareness and safety tips to protect children and families from the devastation of child drownings. 

How to Prevent Drowning Accidents 

Drowning can unfold silently and swiftly, but most drowning incidences are preventable. These five safety measures can help keep children and families safe when water is present. 

1) Active Supervision 

Actively supervising your child when near water, including bathtubs, is one of the best and most effective ways to prevent drowning accidents. A child under 30 pounds can drown within 30 seconds, and older children can drown within 5 minutes. While it may seem harmless to take a phone call or read a book on a pool lounger, taking your eyes off of your child, even for a minute, can be a catastrophic mistake. 

For children under the age of 5, touch supervision is best practice. This means that you or another capable adult is within arm’s reach of the child at all times when in or near the water. For older children, it is still important for an adult to be present and actively watching them while they swim, even with a lifeguard present.  

2) Swim Lessons 

Before taking your children around water this summer, it’s important to introduce them to the water through formal swimming lessons. American Red Cross advises that children as young as 6 months old can be enrolled in swimming lessons, learning life-saving habits while in or around water. This includes floating, treading, and learning new strokes to become stronger, more confident swimmers. 

Even if your child has attended swim lessons and is confident in the water, it’s still important for an adult to be present and actively supervising. Children under the age of 12 should always be supervised by an adult while in or near the water. Teenagers that are competent swimmers may be able to swim in a pool where a lifeguard is present without parent supervision but always check facility rules and never leave a child of any age unattended. 

3) Colorful Swim Wear 

If you walk into your favorite retail store, you will probably see tons of adorable swimsuits for little boys and girls. At the time of shopping, you may not consider the safety concerns of certain colors. Most of us just see the cute little blue trunks with flamingos and think about how cute our little one would look wearing them around! However, Alive Solutions warns that these swimsuits carry more weight than we could have imagined.  

When shopping for a swimsuit for your child, it’s important to put heavy consideration on how your child’s swim wear will stand out in the water. Dark colors such as black, grey, and navy blue often blend in with dark bottom pools and natural Texas water. White, light blue, and pastels can also be difficult to see in murky water and light bottom pools. Bright neon and high contrasting colors are often a safe choice for all water types, as they are more reflective and easier to spot in the event of your child going underwater. 

Taking proper precautions around pools is often a simple and effective way to keep children from accidentally drowning, even in off seasons! It’s unfortunate and heart-breaking, but accidental drownings often happen because children wander near a pool and either accidentally fall in or climb in out of curiosity. Pool coverings, especially in winter months, can be a lifesaving precaution to keep children out of the water when there is not an adult present.  

Aside from covering the pool, fences around pools are not only a smart precaution, but they are legally required by Texas law. According to the Texas Administrative Code, all pools must abide by these specific guidelines.https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/hs/htm/hs.757.htm. 

  • All pools must have fences surrounding them that are at least 48 inches tall. They cannot be made of chain link material.  
  • No fence may have a gap at the button or vertical fence slats that are big enough to allow a ball that is four inches in diameter to pass through. 
  • Gates must be at least 48 inches tall and meet the same requirements as fences. They must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch located on the inside of the gate. Gates must swing inward away from the pool.  
  • All doors must be self-closing and self-latching. The door also needs a keyless bolting device that is 36-48 inches off the floor. 
  • If a wall serves as a boundary on one or more sides, any doors or windows must have an alarm installed on them. Alarm bypass buttons must be tall enough for children to not reach. 
  • Above-ground swimming pools must abide by the same rules as inground pools to prevent unauthorized access. 
  • If a pool has both horizontal and vertical slats, all slat attachments must be on the inside of the fence, not outside. 

While the Texas law has provided “bare minimum” guidelines, many cities have their own ordinances that pool owners must abide by. For example, Dallas requires pool owners to install 6-foot fences around pools, rather than the 4-foot fence required by the Texas code. Austin has also amended these rules, requiring pool latches to be at least 54 inches tall with the gate locked at all times, 6 inches higher than required by the Texas code. 

5) Proper Use of Floatation Devices 

As parents, we all want to keep our children safe and allow them the freedom to have fun in the water. This often leads us to buy fun, decorative floaties thinking that these will keep our children afloat while they splash around in the pool. Floaties are great, but not all floatation devices are built the same, nor do they offer the same level of protection. 

When shopping for floaties, always make sure they are certified by safety organizations like the U.S. Coast Guard or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Be sure to follow the weight and height guidelines on all floatation devices and try to find one that has an adjustable strap to fit securely on your child. Any child using a floatation device should always be actively supervised by a parent or adult. Please remember that water wings and arm floaties are not a replacement for a certified life jacket. In open water or on a moving boat, children under 13 are required to wear a U.S Coast Guard approved life jacket, regardless of their swimming ability. 

Parents and children shouldn’t be afraid of the water. Whether it be a backyard pool, Barton Springs in Austin, Texas, or White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas, spending time in the water in the Texas heat is one of the best ways to spend the summer! As long as you understand the risks associated with being in or near the water and follow these safety tips, you and your family can make lasting memories while keeping everyone safe.