Water Competency
Water Competency & the Skills to Survive
Learn to enhance your water safety skills to help reduce the risk of drowning for yourself and for those around you.
Everyone Should Learn to Swim
Swimming is not an instinctive skill for humans. We cannot survive in water unless we are taught basic skills. All adults and children should learn these crucial skills as soon as possible. All caretakers must understand that children are never considered “drown proof,” even if they have undergone swim lessons. Nothing will ever eliminate the risk of drowning, but learning to swim equips children with a life-saving layer of protection.
When to Start & Where to Look
Speak with your pediatrician before considering any water safety/swimming lessons for children. The AAP recommends starting swim lessons as early as age 1. By taking formal swimming lessons, children ages 1-4 can reduce their drowning risk by 88%. Water competency and swim lessons should be continuous, and not taken for just one season – skills need to be developed and maintained during the entire year.
Swim Lesson Recommendations
Look for swim programs that have experienced, certified, and qualified instructors. Learn to swim programs should teach safety in, on, and around the water and teach students what to do if they end up in the water unexpectedly. Ensure that the program maintains accepted water quality, keeps the water warm, and has a safety plan in place. Use our Swim Program Checklist when visiting a program to help you find the right swim program for your family.
