New Pool Safety Guidelines: What Parents Should Know

Important Pool Safety Rules for Child Care Providers

As summer gets warmer and kids spend more time swimming, it’s very important that child care providers follow new safety rules to keep children safe around pools. In 2025, updated pool safety guidelines were made to help stop accidents and give parents peace of mind.

Key Changes in Pool Safety

Use of Approved Life Jackets
Child care providers must make sure all kids near or in the pool wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets or swim vests. These are safer than regular floaties or inflatable toys.
Lifeguard or More Supervision
Child care centers with pools should have a certified lifeguard during pool time. If that’s not possible, there should be one adult watching no more than three children in the water. This helps keep kids safe with close attention.
Emergency Tools Nearby
Facilities must keep rescue tools like a long pole with a hook and a life ring close to the pool. These help adults quickly save a child without jumping into the water.
Checking Swim Skills and Teaching Safety
Providers must check each child’s swimming ability when they start and teach water safety lessons that match their age. This helps kids learn how to be safe and confident in the water.
Safety Drills and Staff Training
Child care centers must practice pool safety drills regularly. Staff must get yearly training in water rescue, CPR, and first aid for kids. This makes sure adults are ready if something happens.
Fencing and Locked Gates
Pools must have strong fences and gates that close and lock by themselves. This stops kids from getting into the pool area alone and keeps them safe.

What Parents Should Know

These new rules help make pools at child care centers much safer. They make sure kids wear the right life jackets, have close supervision, and that adults are prepared for emergencies.

If your child goes to a center with a pool, ask how they follow these safety rules. Check that staff are trained, life jackets are used, and emergency tools are ready.

These updates help kids have fun and learn to swim safely, while parents can feel confident their children are protected.