Beach Safety Checklist for Families

A safe family beach day comes down to a few habits: check the forecast, swim only where lifeguards are on duty, name one adult to watch the water, keep little ones within arm's reach, and put life jackets on children. This checklist walks you through each step, from your kitchen table to the drive home.

Print the Beach Safety Checklist for Families and keep it in your beach bag. Every item below comes from the National Weather Service, CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Red Cross.

Before you leave home

• Check the beach forecast. The National Weather Service (NWS) says to check water conditions before going in by looking at the local beach forecast (opens in a new tab) before you leave. Find yours on the NWS beach forecast map (opens in a new tab). If rip currents are forecast, the NWS says to stay out of the water (opens in a new tab).
• Pick a beach with lifeguards, and check their hours. The NWS says to only swim at a beach with lifeguards (opens in a new tab). See why swimming near a lifeguard matters.
• Check the weather for storms. Lightning is a real beach danger. The NWS says general beach activities are the second highest cause of lightning fatalities (opens in a new tab), after fishing.
• Be honest about swimming skills. The NWS says swimming in a pool is NOT the same as swimming at a surf beach (opens in a new tab). You should be a strong swimmer before you go into the ocean.
• Decide who the Water Watchers are and in what order.
• Pack the safety gear:
  • A U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each child and each weak swimmer, sized by weight.
  • A charged phone for calling 911, kept dry.
  • Water, shade, hats and sunscreen.
  • Your phone number for each young child to carry, such as on a wristband, and practice saying it with them.

When you arrive: flags, lifeguard and a meeting spot

• Read the signs at the entrance. The NWS says flags aren't used in all areas and their meaning can vary (opens in a new tab), so read the posted key. Learn the colors in what each beach flag means.
• Set up near a lifeguard stand. Note its number or the nearest street, so everyone can find it.
• Talk to the lifeguard. The Red Cross says to ask a lifeguard about water conditions, beach conditions, and potential hazards (opens in a new tab).
• Watch the water for a few minutes before anyone goes in. Look for rip currents. See how to spot a rip current.
• Agree on a meeting spot, usually the lifeguard stand. Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue in Florida says a good landmark will be the nearest lifeguard tower (opens in a new tab).
• Take a photo of each child so you can show what they are wearing. More in what to do if your child gets lost at the beach.

In the water

• One Water Watcher at a time. Pool Safely says a Water Watcher is an adult tasked with supervising children in the water (opens in a new tab), and that should be their only task. Lifeguards don't replace them.
• Touch supervision for little ones. The AAP says a supervising adult who can swim should be within arm's length (opens in a new tab) of an infant, toddler or weak swimmer.
• Swim where the lifeguard is watching, and never alone. The Red Cross says to swim with a buddy even in lifeguarded areas (opens in a new tab).
• Feet first. The Red Cross says to never dive head first into surf (opens in a new tab). See shore break and big waves.
• Keep away from piers and jetties. The Red Cross says to stay at least 100 feet away, because permanent rip currents often exist near them.
• No alcohol for swimmers or watchers. CDC says to avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or other water activities (opens in a new tab).
• Out of the water for thunder or lightning. The NWS says to head to a safe place immediately (opens in a new tab) at any sign of a storm: a vehicle or a large, fully enclosed building, not a picnic shelter.

Kids, teens and non-swimmers

Life jackets. CDC says life jackets should be used by children for all activities while in and around natural water (opens in a new tab), and can be used by weaker swimmers of all ages. The AAP adds: make sure they fit properly and are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (opens in a new tab). Water Safety USA says preschool children who are not within arm's reach of an adult, and inexperienced or non-swimmers when other protections are limited, should wear one too.

Teens. Teens often go to the beach with friends. Agree on the rules before they go: guarded beach, guard hours only, nobody swims alone, no alcohol, and nobody swims out after a friend in trouble. Share how to help someone caught in a rip current.

Adults who can't swim well. Wade only where you can stand, near the lifeguard, and consider a life jacket. The NWS says waves and currents can quickly exhaust your energy and strength (opens in a new tab).

Pool floats and inflatables at the beach

Inflatable rings, rafts, water wings and big pool floats are popular at the beach. They are toys, not safety gear.

• CDC says do not rely on air-filled or foam toys, as these are not safety devices (opens in a new tab).
• The AAP says floaties, water wings and inflatable toys can deflate and do not prevent drowning (opens in a new tab).
• Water Safety USA says swimming aids and water toys are toys (opens in a new tab). They may provide some buoyancy, but they do not prevent drowning.
• Some beaches don't allow them. NYC Parks' Rockaway beach rules prohibit snorkels, fins, rafts, unauthorized watercraft, and other flotation devices (opens in a new tab).

If a child wants to float, use a fitted life jacket, and keep them close to shore and within reach. Read water wings, floaties and swim vests: what's safe for kids.

Sun and heat

The NWS beach safety page says the sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (opens in a new tab), and to reapply sunscreen every two hours and whenever you get out of the water.

• Shade, hats and sunscreen for everyone.
• Plenty of drinking water. The NWS beach advice is to remain hydrated (opens in a new tab) and relax in the shade.
• A cool place to rest if anyone feels dizzy, sick or very tired.

Before you leave

• Count heads before you pack up, and again at the car.
• Rinse and dry life jackets so they last.
• Talk about the day: what did everyone notice about the waves, flags or currents?

Your printable checklist

Planning a trip somewhere new? The Vacation water safety check tool helps you plan for beaches, pools and lakes on vacation, and our vacation water safety guide covers the rest of the trip.

What you can do today

1. Print the Beach Safety Checklist for Families and put it in your beach bag.
2. Bookmark the NWS beach forecast (opens in a new tab) on your phone.
3. Check your children's life jackets for fit and the Coast Guard approval label, before the beach season starts.
4. Practice the flags with the Beach warning flags decoder decoder.
5. Teach your kids the meeting-spot rule with our guide to teaching kids ocean safety.