Pool party safety plan

Why parties need a plan

Pool parties are when good supervision is hardest. There are more children, more adults, food, music and conversation, and every adult can assume someone else is watching. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that parties and picnics at the pool or lake are exactly when it is easy to get distracted (opens in a new tab), and recommends assigning a "water watcher" whose job is to keep constant eyes on the children.

Drowning is quick and quiet. The CPSC (opens in a new tab) reports that most young children who drowned in pools had been missing for 5 minutes or less, and that more than half of pool drownings of children under 5 are linked to a gap in adult supervision. A written plan closes those gaps before the first guest arrives.

What the plan includes

• A Water Watcher rota. Adults take turns, passing a water watcher card every 15 to 20 minutes, as the AAP suggests. The watcher's only job is watching: no reading, texting or phone games (Pool Safely (opens in a new tab)). The plan prints a schedule with a name for every turn.
• Touch supervision for the youngest. For young children and weak swimmers, the AAP says an adult should be in the water within arm's reach. Weak swimmers and non-swimmers should also wear a fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket at the pool.
• Pool rules. From the American Red Cross (opens in a new tab): swim only when a Water Watcher is on duty, no head-first entry unless there is a safe diving area, and stay away from drains. The CDC adds a warning about breath-holding: hyperventilating and holding your breath underwater (opens in a new tab) can make you pass out and drown.
• A set-up checklist. The fence and gate work, drain covers are in place, life jackets fit, a phone is ready to call 911, and something that floats is by the pool to reach or throw. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance lists having a phone ready to call 911 (opens in a new tab) as part of emergency preparation.
• After the party. Gate shut and latched, toys out of the pool area, and any inflatable pool emptied and put away.
• Emergency steps. If a child is missing, check the water first. Call 911. Reach or throw, don't go. If you are trained, start CPR.

How to use this tool

Enter the date and start time, how long children will swim, where the party is, how many children are coming and how many are weak swimmers, the adults who will take turns watching, and who knows CPR. Press Make my plan. The tool builds the rota and flags anything to fix, such as too few adults on the rota or no one who knows CPR. Print it and tape it up by the pool. Your answers stay on this device.

At someone else's pool or a rental, ask the host about the fence, the gate latch and the drain covers before the day. At a public pool, keep your own Water Watcher even with lifeguards on duty: lifeguards may not see the whole pool.

For more, read how to host a safe pool party, pool rules for kids and pool rescue equipment.

What you can do today

1. Make the plan and send the rota to the adults on it.
2. Print a Water Watcher card to pass between turns.
3. Ask your guests who has learned CPR, and keep the adults on watch sober.