Teens and Water Safety: Your Questions

Mostly risk, not lack of skill. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says teens may overestimate their swimming skills, misjudge how serious water hazards are, or take impulsive risks. Almost half of 10- to 17-year-olds who drowned could swim, according to child death review data reported by Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab). Almost half of drownings of people 15 and older happen in natural water like lakes, rivers and oceans (CDC (opens in a new tab)). See water safety for teens.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Yes. Across all ages, nearly 80% of people who die from drowning in the U.S. are male, according to the CDC (opens in a new tab). Young people also saw some of the biggest recent increases: from 2019 to 2020, the drowning death rate for people 15 to 24 rose 31.3% (CDC MMWR (opens in a new tab)). Talking openly about risk-taking, alcohol and life jackets matters for teen boys in particular. See why boys and men drown more often.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Treat them as a partner, not a suspect. Share the facts: many teens who drown could swim, and natural water is not a pool. Agree on a few rules together, such as never swimming alone, which the Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says applies to teens and adults too, and no alcohol near water. Ask them to take a CPR class, as the AAP (opens in a new tab) recommends for adolescents. Share the infographic and read water safety for teens.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab)

Lakes and rivers are riskier than pools, so teens should never go alone and should pick a guarded spot. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says to be water competent for natural water before swimming there and to enter unknown water feet first. The CDC (opens in a new tab) says to swim with a buddy and choose sites with lifeguards when possible, and notes that lakes hide currents, drop-offs and poor visibility. Weaker swimmers should wear a life jacket. See why lakes are not pools.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Four things: the five water competency skills, how to spot trouble, how to help safely, and CPR. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) lists the skills: enter deep water and resurface, float or tread for 1 minute, turn around, swim 25 yards and get out. It also teaches the signs that a swimmer needs help and the rule reach or throw, don't go. At the beach, add how to spot and escape a rip current. See water competency and rip currents.

Source: redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

For American Red Cross lifeguarding, students must be at least 15 by the last day of class and pass a swimming skills test, according to the Red Cross (opens in a new tab). Other programs and employers may set their own ages. In New York City, NYC Parks Swim Prep (opens in a new tab) offers free coaching for swimmers 16 and older who want to pass the lifeguard qualifying test. See how to become a lifeguard or swim instructor.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), nycgovparks.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes. Jumping from cliffs, bridges or boats risks hitting rocks, logs or the bottom you can't see. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says not to enter the water from a height such as a bridge or boat, to enter unknown or shallow water feet first, and to dive only where the water is clearly marked safe for diving and at least 9 feet deep. Water-filled quarries hide ledges and machinery and can be dangerously cold (MSHA (opens in a new tab)). See jumping and diving safety.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), msha.gov (opens in a new tab)

On boats, yes, whatever their swimming skill. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says to always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill. Federal law requires children under 13 to wear one on a moving boat. In 2024, 87% of people who drowned in boating incidents were not wearing a life jacket, where use was known (U.S. Coast Guard (opens in a new tab)). Weaker swimmers should also wear one in natural water. See how to choose a life jacket.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), uscgboating.org (opens in a new tab), uscgboating.org (opens in a new tab)

It is passing out underwater after hyperventilating or holding your breath too long, which can lead to drowning even in a strong swimmer. The CDC (opens in a new tab) says not to hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold your breath underwater for long periods, because it can cause you to pass out and drown. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) calls this hypoxic blackout. Breath-holding contests are not a safe game. See Shallow water blackout.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Alcohol makes water far more dangerous for teens and young adults. Among teens and adults, alcohol is involved in up to 70% of deaths linked to water recreation (CDC (opens in a new tab)), and between 25% and 61% of people aged 15 to 34 report drinking around water (CDC MMWR (opens in a new tab)). The CDC advises no alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities. Make a plan before the party: no drinking near water. See alcohol and swimming.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Yes. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says caregivers and adolescents should learn CPR and know how to perform safe rescue. Teens who babysit or swim with younger siblings can use these skills to protect them. For drowning, choose a class that teaches rescue breaths as well as chest compressions, as Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab) recommends. See where to learn CPR.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), watersafetyusa.org (opens in a new tab)

Shout for help, get someone to call 911, and help from land. Signs of trouble include not moving forward, being upright but unable to tread water, or floating face down, according to the Red Cross (opens in a new tab). Reach with a pole or branch, or throw something that floats, and don't swim out: the National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) warns that many people have died trying to rescue someone. See reach or throw, don't go.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

Have one short, calm conversation. Agree on three rules: never swim alone, no alcohol near water, and a life jacket on every boat. Ask your teen to check the five water competency skills with the , and look up a CPR class together. If they want to lifeguard, the Red Cross lifeguarding page (opens in a new tab) lists what's needed. The teen water safety guide has more to talk about.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)