Water competency self-check

What water competency means

Being able to swim and being water competent are not quite the same. The American Red Cross (opens in a new tab) describes water competency as three things together: water smarts (avoiding common dangers), swimming skills, and helping others (knowing how to prevent and respond to a drowning emergency).

The swimming part is five skills. The Red Cross says to learn to do them in every kind of water you may swim in, from home pools to oceans, lakes and rivers:

1. Enter water that's over your head, then return to the surface.
2. Float or tread water for at least 1 minute.
3. Turn over and turn around in the water.
4. Swim at least 25 yards.
5. Exit the water.

Why check?

Many people who say they can swim can't do all five. In a 2020 Red Cross survey (opens in a new tab), 85% of Americans said they could swim, but only 56% of those self-described swimmers could perform all five basic skills. The gap matters most where people overestimate themselves. The AAP notes that teens may overestimate their swimming skills (opens in a new tab) and misjudge hazards, and the National Weather Service warns that swimming in a pool is not the same (opens in a new tab) as swimming at a surf beach with waves, wind and currents.

How this check works

Choose whether you are checking yourself or a child. For each skill, answer honestly: yes in any water you swim in, yes but only in a pool, not yet, or not sure. The tool then shows which skills are in place, which to practise beyond the pool, and which to learn next. It also lists the Red Cross water smarts and helping-others skills, such as swimming sober, never swimming alone, knowing the dangers of holding your breath underwater, and helping safely with "reach or throw, don't go." Your answers stay on this device.

Please don't test these skills alone or in open water. Practise in a pool with a lifeguard or a certified instructor watching.

Skills are one layer

Finishing beginner lessons does not mean a child is water competent, and even competent swimmers need close supervision, says Water Safety USA (opens in a new tab). Life jackets, barriers, supervision and CPR all still count.

For more, read water competency: the 5 skills that can save your life, open-water skills for pool swimmers and learning to swim as an adult.

What you can do today

1. Answer the five questions for yourself and for each child.
2. Book a lesson or practice session for any skill marked "not yet" or "not sure." The swim lesson finder links to official lesson finders, including adult learn-to-swim instructors.
3. Keep track of new skills with the swim progress tracker.