Some days, parenting can feel like an uncharted path full of wonder and worry. And, while parenthood doesn’t come with a fail-proof handbook, there’s a lot families can do to prevent life-threatening situations and prepare for real emergencies.

We asked Graham Snyder, MD, emergency medicine physician and medical director of WakeMed Medical Simulation Center, to share his top tips and thoughts on what every parent and caregiver should know and do to keep children safe in water.

Snyder recommends parents spend their energy on prevention and preparation steps that have been proven as effective ways to save lives and prevent serious injuries. Preventable injuries are the number one killer of children in the United States.

Action Steps to Take Today!

• Enroll in a CPR class to learn about how to give age appropriate chest compressions, plus when and how to use the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts).
• Learn about the signs of drowning and how to resuscitate.

Sign Up for Swim Classes & Learn CPR with Rescue Breathing.

“Children and parents should know how to swim,” says Dr. Snyder. “A child’s risk of drowning is higher if they have a parent who is afraid of the water.”

The biggest risk factor of drowning is not knowing how to swim, and 80 percent of kids who drown never had a swim lesson.

Know the Signs of Drowning.

• Shocked, wide-eyed look with mouth possibly open
• Appearance of bobbing or even playing with their head likely tilted back
• Legs straight down
• Arms stretched out trying to push up to get nose and mouth out of the water

Remember: A drowning child or adult can’t breathe, so they will be quiet. They will not call for help!


Timing is critical, and a constant, watchful eye can be life-saving.

Designate a Watcher While Swimming.

Do not let children out of your sight when they are near or in the water. When children are in the water, they should always be within arm’s reach of a designated adult who can swim. The best thing to do is to get in the water and stay very close to young children or inexperienced swimmers. Do not assume that they’re okay just because they’ve had some swim lessons.

“Adults should regularly scan the bottom of a pool and watch the eyes of children while they are swimming,” explains Dr. Snyder. “The instinctive drowning response will only last for 20 to 60 seconds if they are not rescued.”

Even with more experienced swimmers, always designate a watcher who knows the signs of distress and will stay visibly focused on the children in the pool.

“Never count on a group of adults to ‘keep an eye’ on children in or near water,” warns Dr. Snyder.

Be the watcher yourself, or designate someone specific who you trust to really watch your child if you are not going to be nearby.

Rescue and Resuscitate.

When there is a drowning, you need to give rescue breaths. Dr. Snyder emphasizes that rescue breaths are important, but if someone is scared to give rescue breaths, the person should still do chest compressions.

“Ideally, you should give a couple breaths and then start CPR,” says Dr. Snyder. “You don’t need to pound on a child or adult to get water out of them.”

The focus should be on getting them breathing.

“You can save someone’s life — pinch their nose, put your mouth on their mouth and give them a few breaths followed by chest compressions,” advises Dr. Snyder. “They’ll likely cry and throw up, and they might actually seem fine after that, but they absolutely need to go to the hospital because it’s important to be watched closely after a submersion injury to the lungs.”

Over the next 12 hours or so after a person has been rescued from drowning, he or she can develop wheezing and might need oxygen support.

Where to Seek Care

You are urged to visit one of our WakeMed emergency care facilities if your child or an adult experiences a water emergency. We are ready and able to provide you the comprehensive care you need right away.

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MEET THE EXPERT

Graham Snyder, MD, specializes in emergency medicine and has practiced full-time as an emergency physician at WakeMed Health & Hospitals since 2002. He provides physician oversight and clinical leadership for the Medical Simulation Center. He serves as the Associate Program Director for the University Of North Carolina Department of Emergency Medicine.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and also holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. As the medical director of the Medical Simulation Center, he is able to combine his engineering and medical training to teach all levels of health care providers the art and science of emergency care.