How to Host a Safe Pool Party

A safe pool party has a plan for who is watching the water at every minute, with named Water Watchers who take short shifts, stay sober and put their phones away. Add life jackets for weak swimmers, rescue gear and a phone by the pool, and a locked gate the moment swimming ends.

Parties are joyful and busy, and that is exactly the problem. With lots of adults around, everyone assumes someone else is watching. A little planning fixes that.

Why parties need a plan

5 minutes or less

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) singles out parties: especially during parties or picnics at the pool or lake, when it's easy to get distracted (opens in a new tab), assign a Water Watcher. Noise, food, guests and music all pull eyes away from the water, and drowning happens quickly and quietly (opens in a new tab) (CDC).

The Red Cross also warns that many home-pool drownings happen as the swimming activity was coming to an end and everyone was thought to be out of the water (opens in a new tab). The end of a party needs as much care as the start.

Before guests arrive

Use the planner to set up shifts, rules and supplies, then print what you need.

• Pick your Water Watchers and their times before the party, not during it.
• Tell parents on the invitation who will be watching, and ask them to stay if their child is young or can't swim well.
• Check the barrier: the gate closes and latches by itself, and doors to the pool area lock.
• Set out rescue gear and a phone. The Red Cross suggests reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit (opens in a new tab).
• Post the address by the phone, so anyone can tell 911 where they are. CPSC advises knowing the address of your location so you can direct emergency personnel (opens in a new tab).
• Have life jackets in a range of sizes for weak swimmers.
• Check the drain covers are in place and undamaged.

Water Watcher shifts

Pool Safely, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's campaign, says a Water Watcher's supervising should be their only task: they shouldn't be reading, texting or playing games on their phone (opens in a new tab).

• Short shifts. The AAP suggests passing a water watcher card to the next responsible adult after a set time, such as every 15 to 20 minutes (opens in a new tab).
• Clear handoffs. The next watcher arrives, the card changes hands, and they say "I've got it" before the first watcher leaves.
• Little ones stay close. Babies, toddlers and weak swimmers need their own adult within arm's reach, in addition to the Water Watcher. CDC says you can assign a specific adult to supervise each child (opens in a new tab).
• Even with a lifeguard. Pool Safely says even if a lifeguard is present, parents and caregivers should still take the responsibility of being a designated Water Watcher (opens in a new tab).

Make cards with the Water Watcher card and timer tool, or print the Water Watcher Card. More on handoffs is in how to supervise kids around water.

Rules for kids and adults

Keep the rules short, say them out loud when swimming starts, and post them by the pool.

• Ask before you swim. The Red Cross says to teach children to always ask permission to go near water (opens in a new tab).
• Swim only when a Water Watcher is on duty. The Red Cross home pool rules say only swim when supervised by a water watcher (opens in a new tab).
• Feet first. Do not enter head first unless in a pool that has a safe diving area (opens in a new tab) (Red Cross).
• Stay away from drains.
• Life jackets, not floaties. The AAP says weak or non-swimmers should also wear life jackets when at a pool (opens in a new tab), and they should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and fit properly. CDC warns that air-filled or foam toys are not safety devices (opens in a new tab).
• No child is in charge of another. The Red Cross says do not trust a child's life to another child (opens in a new tab).

More ideas for explaining rules to children are in pool rules for kids.

Food, drinks and distractions

• Sober watchers. CDC says do not drink alcohol while supervising children (opens in a new tab). The Red Cross rule is swim sober, and supervise others sober and without distractions (opens in a new tab).
• Grill master is not the watcher. Whoever is cooking hands the card to someone else.
• Pause swimming for big moments. Cake, gifts and group photos are good times to call everyone out of the pool, then restart with a fresh watcher.
• Watch, don't just listen. Music and chatter don't matter much, because drowning is often silent. What matters is eyes on the water.

When the party ends: secure the pool

1. Call "everyone out" and count every child as they leave the water.
2. Do a final scan of the pool, including the bottom and under any floats.
3. Clear the toys. CDC says to remove all toys from the pool area that might attract children (opens in a new tab).
4. Close and lock the gate, the doors to the pool area, and any cover. CDC advises you shut and lock doors that give access to water (opens in a new tab).
5. Empty any kiddie pools, buckets and coolers.
6. Keep watching as families leave. Children wander back to the water while adults say goodbye.

If a child goes missing at any point, CPSC's advice is to always look for a missing child in the pool or spa first (opens in a new tab), and call 911 if you find them in the water.

What you can do today

1. Plan your next party with the Pool party safety plan tool, and print the Pool Party Safety Checklist.
2. Ask two or three adults to be Water Watchers and agree on shift times.
3. Hang a reaching pole and ring buoy by the pool. See pool rescue equipment.
4. Write an emergency plan for who calls 911 and who helps. See water emergency action plans.
5. Check your layers with the home pool safety checklist.