Published on May 22, 2026 9:40 am
Last Updated on May 22, 2026 9:40 am
As warm summer days approach and families gear up for backyard pool parties and trips to the beach, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Safe Kids Illinois and Lurie Children’s Hospital are teaming up to promote a simple life-saving strategy everyone can use to keep children safe when they are in or near water: designate a Water Watcher.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4; and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14. Most of these tragedies can be prevented if children are actively supervised when they are in or near water.
To help families keep children safe, Illinois DCFS has created a printable Water Watcher tag that clearly identifies the adult responsible for supervising children during water activities, helping ensure that someone is always alert and watching them.
The designated Water Watcher commits to:
- Remaining in constant visual contact with all children in or near water.
- Remaining by the water unless relieved by another Water Watcher.
- Not looking at phones or other devices, consuming alcoholic beverages or socializing.
- Calling 911 in an emergency.
“Drownings often happen quickly and silently, even when adults are present,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “Designating a Water Watcher, someone who agrees to remain near water and maintain constant visual contact with all children without distractions like devices, socializing or consuming alcohol, ensures there is always an adult who is responsible for supervising children during water-related activities. It’s a simple tool that can save a child’s life.”
“As families spend more time around pools, beaches, and lakes this summer, it’s critical that children are always actively supervised near water,” said Safe Kids Illinois Coordinator Amy Hill. “A designated Water Watcher helps eliminate confusion about who is responsible for watching children and can prevent a tragedy from happening in seconds.”
In 2025, 24 Illinois children lost their lives to accidental drowning, including 12 in pools and eight in lakes, rivers or ponds. Fifty percent of the children were age 5 and younger; including nine of the children who drowned in pools.
To download Water Watcher tags and learn more water safety tips, visit the DCFS website: dcfs.illinois.gov/for-
