Drowning Prevention and Water Safety
Over 1,500 children and teens die every year in the U.S. from drowning. In Washington state, an average of 25 children and teens drown every year. Most of them are swimming, boating or just playing in or near water.
The Washington State Drowning Prevention Network and Seattle Children’s work together to provide you with information and resources on water safety and drowning prevention. We can prevent drownings if we all do our part!
Know the water. Know your limits. Wear a life jacket.
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Due to the uncertain and ever-changing nature of COVID-19, many life jacket loaner sites areas are closed, and water safety events have been cancelled or postponed. The events on this page are up-to-date, and we will continue making edits as we learn more.
- Have fun and be safe using these resources about swimming, life jackets and water safety at home, in swimming pools and on open water, like lakes.
- Life Jacket Coupon (PDF) Learn more about life jackets and get a coupon good for 25% off the regular price of any life jacket in stock at Big 5 Sporting Goods stores in Washington and northern Idaho. The coupon is valid through September 30.
- Water Safety: How to Fit Kids for Life Jackets (Video, 1:00)
- Borrow life jackets for free (PDF) through life jacket loaner programs at boating ramps, bathing beaches and other sites around Washington. See a Google map of these locations.
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- Get useful information about life jackets, life jacket loaner programs, swimming and water safety, drowning surveillance and reporting, drowning prevention policy and more.
- Host events, like April Pools Day and Summer Splash-Tacular, and be part of Everyone Swims, an ongoing policy and system change initiative to increase access to swimming and water recreation among culturally diverse and low-income families.
- Read about policy strategies to prevent open water drowning in Washington state, as well as international open water guidelines.
- Email us to join the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network, which provides a forum for water safety and injury prevention organizations to work together to prevent drowning.
Contact Us
Email us to get help starting a drowning prevention campaign in your community or learn more about the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network.
Support Our Work
Support Seattle Children’s water safety education and programs to increase access to life jackets. Designate your donation to “water safety.” Donate now.
