Public Pool Safety: Lifeguards Help, But You Still Watch

At a public pool, a lifeguard is an extra layer of protection, not a babysitter. A parent or caregiver should still watch their own children the whole time, keep young children and weak swimmers within arm's reach, and follow the pool's rules for deep water.

Public, hotel and apartment pools are great places to swim and learn. They're also crowded, noisy and full of distractions. Here is how to keep your eyes where they need to be.

Why public pools matter for older kids

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Young children mostly drown at home. Older children are different. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that for children 5 to 9 and 10 to 14, the public, community or business location accounted for the largest share of reported drownings where the location was known (opens in a new tab). CPSC counts condominium and apartment complex pools in that group.

Older children often swim with friends, push their limits and drift away from adults. For tips on watching kids who already swim, see supervising confident swimmers.

What lifeguards can and can't do

Lifeguards are trained to spot trouble and respond fast. But they watch a whole crowd, not your child.

Pool Safely, CPSC's campaign, explains two limits: when any lifeguard chair is empty, the remaining lifeguards may not be able to see the entire pool (opens in a new tab), and when lifeguards are seated in low chairs, their view can be blocked by patrons in the pool (opens in a new tab).

That's why 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). CDC agrees: adults should supervise children closely even when lifeguards are present (opens in a new tab). The Red Cross adds: no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water (opens in a new tab).

Choose your spot and your watcher

• Name the watcher before you arrive. If two adults come, decide who watches first and swap with a card. Make one with the Water Watcher card and timer tool.
• Sit where you can see. Pick a spot at the water's edge with a clear view of your children, not a shady corner behind the crowd.
• Get in with little ones. The AAP says adults should be in the water with young children and within arm's length, providing constant "touch supervision" (opens in a new tab), and should take the child along if they leave the water, even when lifeguards are present.
• Pick a swimsuit you can spot easily, so you can keep track of your child in a crowd.
• Agree on a meeting point for older children, and a rule that they check in at set times.
• Phone away. The Red Cross says avoid distractions including cell phones (opens in a new tab).

Deep ends, drop-offs and swim tests

• Stay where they can stand. Until a child can swim well, keep them in water where their feet touch the bottom and you are within arm's reach. NYC Parks gives similar advice for its pools: it's safer to leave floaties at home and just stay in the shallow end of the pool until everyone learns to swim (opens in a new tab).
• Watch for slopes. Many pools get deeper gradually. Show children where the depth changes.
• Follow the pool's deep-water rules. If the pool tests swimmers before they can use the deep end, let your child take the test, and respect the result.
• Life jackets, not floaties, for weak swimmers, if the pool allows them.
• Feet first. Dive only where the pool marks it as safe.
• Buddy up. The Red Cross says always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone (opens in a new tab).

Teach your children the rules before you go. See pool rules for kids.

Hotel, apartment and rental pools without guards

Many hotel, motel, apartment and vacation rental pools have no lifeguard. Then you are the lifeguard.

• Same watcher rules, the whole time anyone is in the water.
• Check the drains. Don't swim if a drain cover is loose, broken or missing. CPSC found that 57% of spa entrapment victims were at nonresidential locations, such as a hotel or motel (opens in a new tab) (2014-2018). See drain entrapment.
• Check the gate and phone. Does the gate close by itself? Where is the nearest phone, and what's the address?
• Rentals are not hotels. For vacation homes, Pool Safely says to check if important safety barriers like self-latching gates, pool door alarms, and non-climbable four-sided fencing are installed (opens in a new tab) before you book.

NYC Parks pool basics

New York City's outdoor pools are free and open to everyone each summer. NYC Parks (opens in a new tab) lists this year's dates, hours and locations; check before you go, because they change each season. A few rules from its "Know Before You Go" section:

• A swimsuit is required. For sun cover, NYC Parks allows a plain white shirt or white hat.
• Bring a lock. Locks are required to enter (opens in a new tab), and luggage locks aren't accepted.
• Leave food, glass bottles, electronic devices and newspapers at home.
• Pool types: mini pools are meant for children, and open to adults only when accompanied by a child (opens in a new tab); wading pools are for children and tots.
• Babies and toddlers can wear swim diapers.

NYC Parks also runs free Learn to Swim (opens in a new tab) classes by lottery. See free swim lessons in NYC.

What you can do today

1. Decide who watches on your next pool trip, and make a card with the Water Watcher card and timer tool.
2. Teach your kids to check in with you at set times and to stay where they can stand until they swim well.
3. Pack a bright swimsuit, a lock, and a life jacket for weak swimmers.
4. Know the address of the pool you're visiting, in case you need to call 911.
5. Sign up for lessons so every child gains real water skills. Start with free swim lessons in NYC.