Water Safety in Washington

In Washington, dress for cold water and wear a life jacket on every boat and paddle, because many Washington waters stay below 60 degrees most of the year. If you don't own a life jacket, borrow one free from one of more than 180 loaner stations. And if you teach or parent K-8 students, the state offers a free water safety lesson.

Washington drowning and boating numbers

180+

• Drowning: CDC puts Washington's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.50 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), above the U.S. rate of 1.31.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 36 reportable recreational boating incidents in Washington in 2024, with 13 deaths and 15 injuries (opens in a new tab). Thirteen of the 36 incidents involved a death. Deaths by year: 28 in 2020, 14 in 2021, 18 in 2022, 23 in 2023 and 13 in 2024.
• Shoreline: NOAA lists 3,026 miles of official shoreline (opens in a new tab) for Washington, a figure that follows its sounds, bays and tidal rivers.

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

Cold water

Washington State Parks warns: don't be fooled by warm air temps, because many Washington waterways stay under 60 degrees Fahrenheit most of the year (opens in a new tab). It explains that cold water can kill in four stages:

1. Cold shock, in the first three to five minutes: gasping, hyperventilation, vertigo and panic, which can lead to inhaling water.
2. Swim failure, from about 3 to 30 minutes: arms and legs cool so fast that hand strength and speed can drop by 60% to 80%. Even strong swimmers may be unable to keep their heads up.
3. Hypothermia, which may set in after about 30 minutes.
4. Collapse during or after rescue, when the heart can still fail.

A life jacket keeps your head above water through every stage. State Parks cites a U.S. Coast Guard estimate that 80% of boating fatalities could have been prevented if people wore their life jackets (opens in a new tab). Read cold water shock and what to do if you fall overboard.

Free loaner life jackets

Washington's Life Jacket Loaner Program lets you borrow an infant, youth or adult life jacket for the day or weekend, at no charge (opens in a new tab), then return it to the same station. Stations are at many marinas, launch sites and state parks; the state's map shows more than 180. If there isn't one near you, State Parks suggests asking your local sheriff or police department. The program partners with the Washington Drowning Prevention Network. Learn more in life jacket loaner stations.

In eastern Washington, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area points visitors to the Inland Northwest Drowning Prevention Coalition (opens in a new tab) for drowning prevention resources.

Water Safe Washington: a free K-8 lesson

Schools can register for Water Safe Washington (opens in a new tab), a free, standards-based K-8 lesson from the state's Recreational Boating Safety Program. It takes about 50 minutes, can be split into shorter segments, and includes videos, group activities and a take-home water safety pledge. State Parks says nearly 40,000 youth completed the lesson in 2026. Schools that register before March 1 receive stickers and certificates while supplies last.

May 15 is Washington State's Annual Water Safety Day (opens in a new tab), recognized by the legislature since 2023 (HB 1750), and a good time to teach the lesson. For more classroom ideas, see our water safety lesson plans.

Washington boating rules

State Parks says you must carry a Boater Education Card if you operate a vessel with a 15-horsepower (or greater) motor, were born after January 1, 1955, and are 12 or older (opens in a new tab). Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket on a moving boat (opens in a new tab). This is a summary, not legal advice.

What you can do today

• Check the water temperature before you paddle, and dress for it.
• Find the life jacket loaner station nearest your lake, river or marina.
• Ask your child's school to sign up for Water Safe Washington before March 1.
• Get your Boater Education Card if you drive a boat of 15 horsepower or more.
• Learn the rescue rule: reach or throw, don't go.