Water Safety in Iowa

In Iowa, wear a life jacket on any watercraft, keep a designated adult close enough to touch young children in the water, and respect river current, even in shallow water. Iowa law requires a life jacket on every boat, kayak and paddleboard, and requires kids 12 and under to wear one while underway.

Iowa drowning and boating numbers

1.08 per 100,000

• Drowning: CDC puts Iowa's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.08 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), in the lowest band on its map.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 22 reportable recreational boating incidents in Iowa in 2024, with 6 deaths and 15 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 8 in 2020, 3 in 2021, 4 in 2022, 7 in 2023 and 6 in 2024.
• Boats: 220,207 registered vessels in 2024.

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our Iowa data page.

Rivers, lakes and beaches

Iowa DNR's warning about moving water is short and worth remembering: even in ankle deep water, the current can be strong enough to sweep you off your feet and out into deeper water (opens in a new tab). Wade carefully, wear a life jacket on rivers, and read our river safety guide.

For swimmers, DNR's tips are:

• Watch children closely. Assign a designated adult to watch over children, and never assume someone else is watching them (opens in a new tab). Be close enough to touch the child at all times. Our supervision guide shows how.
• Learn and refresh. All children should learn to swim with formal lessons. If you haven't swum in a long time, refresh your skills.
• Life jackets. Make sure kids wear their life jackets before getting in the water.
• CPR. Learn it, or recertify to learn the latest techniques.
• Check the beach. DNR posts bacteria levels at state park beaches (opens in a new tab). Look before you go, and read is the water safe to swim in?

Iowa boating and life jacket rules

From Iowa DNR:

• Every watercraft: Iowa law requires life jackets on every watercraft, whether it's a motorized boat, jet ski, kayak, canoe, or even a paddleboard (opens in a new tab). There must be enough for everyone on board.
• Kids: kids 12 and under must wear a life jacket at all times when the vessel is underway.
• Young operators: anyone 12 to 17 who will operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft must complete the state education program, or have a responsible, experienced person 18 or older on board. See boater education (opens in a new tab).
• Alcohol: the .08 limit for driving a car also applies to boating. DNR notes that wind, sun glare and heat can make alcohol's effects worse.
• Gear: carry a fire extinguisher, a horn or whistle, a wearable life jacket for everyone, an approved throwable device and a first aid kit. File a float plan with a friend.

Paddlers count as boaters in Iowa. See paddleboard safety. This is a summary, not legal advice.

Official Iowa resources

• Iowa DNR boater education and safety (opens in a new tab)
• State park beach bacteria levels (opens in a new tab)
• DNR holiday water safety tips (2026) (opens in a new tab)

What you can do today

• Pack a life jacket for every person, including for kayaks and paddleboards.
• Name a Water Watcher who stays within touching distance of young swimmers.
• Check the state park beach bacteria report before your trip.
• Sign up a 12- to 17-year-old for the boater education course before they drive.
• Book swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.