Why Classroom Water Safety Education Helps Prevent Drowning

Howey here! As HSC’s Water Safety Expert, I talk a lot about swim lessons. We know formal swim lessons are one of the most important things that parents can do to help their kids stay safe in the water. Research has shown (you can read one study here!) that it can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children ages 1-4.

That’s a big deal!

But! It doesn’t just end there. Kids also need to learn how to think safely around the water before they ever even jump in. Even someone who can swim can find themselves in dangerous situations if they don’t know what to look for, or they don’t recognize danger before it’s too late, or don’t know how to respond in an emergency.

I’ll give you an example. If we see someone in trouble in the water, one of our first instincts is to jump in after them! We want to save them as quickly as possible, right? But that’s not actually what we want kids to do. Instead, we want to find something that floats and throw it to them, or reach out to them from the side. If we jump in, they might drag us under with them, and then both swimmers will be in trouble!

Sooo…how do we fill in the gap? With water safety education!

While swim lessons build confidence, comfort, and physical skills in the water, classroom water safety education builds awareness, decision making, and smart emergency response. That can be just as important!

That’s why we offer FREE Water Safety Presentations for schools, daycares, PTAs, and community groups throughout the Greater Houston area. By partnering with nationally successful non-profit organizations like ReesSpecht and Stop Drowning Now, we teach safety in a fun, interactive way. Our presentation is filled with cartoon visuals, interactive activities, and friendly characters, specifically designed for the preschool and elementary age ranges.

Children learn rules like Throw, Don’t Go, how to call 911, why a WATER WATCHER is important, and how to recognize hazards around the pool. This early education helps kids understand how to stay out of trouble before they even get near the water.

If you would like us to come out and give a presentation to your students, check out our water safety presentation page for more info. We’d love to be a part of educating your children and families.

You can also start the education right at home. At kidswatersafety.org, we have kid-friendly games, activities, printable sheets, and even fun cartoon videos featuring ME, Howey, teaching kids all about water safety through fun and play. So check it out with your child together.

That's all for now. I’ll see you around the pool (or the classroom)!

Written by Howey the Dolphin, Water Safety Expert, Houston Swim Club