25 Water Safety Tips That Could Save Your Child’s Life This Summer

Even when a parent brings their child to a supervised body of water, lifeguards and swim instructors are not there to babysit them. "A parent is the first line of defense from the minute they put their child in, on, or around water for the very first time," says Dr. Beale. "Understand that in an aquatic environment, lifeguards have huge responsibilities — create an environment of safety as a parent, even when there are lifeguards around."