Monday, June 22, 2026
The AAP's updated water safety advice, just published this month
The American Academy of Pediatrics released its updated drowning prevention guidance in the June issue of Pediatrics.
The big message: no single safety step works on its own, so families should stack several layers of protection.
Close "touch supervision," four-sided pool fencing, swim lessons, life jackets, and knowing CPR all work together to keep kids safe near water.
Most young children who drowned were alone for an average of just 16 minutes. Drowning rarely looks like the splashing you see on TV, so eyes-on supervision matters every second.
A four-sided fence that separates the pool from the house can dramatically lower drowning risk. In most child drownings, the child reached water no one expected them to access.
The AAP says many children can begin swim lessons as early as their first birthday. Lessons are one helpful layer, but never a substitute for adult supervision.
Coast Guard-approved life jackets protect kids near open water and on boats. Inflatable toys and arm floaties can give a false sense of safety and slip off.
Children warm up faster than adults. Offer water often, take shade breaks, and use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen reapplied every two hours during summer play.
With the AAP's updated drowning prevention statement out this month and summer underway, this is a high-impact moment for water safety counseling. Use well visits to walk families through the layers of protection, recommend four-sided pool fencing and life jackets over inflatable toys, and encourage CPR training for caregivers. A brief, specific conversation now can prevent the season's most common cause of injury death in young children.
Source: AAP Prevention of Drowning policy statement, Pediatrics, June 2026
