The holidays tend to transform quiet homes into lively gathering spots. Suddenly, your living room is filled, your kitchen is bustling, and your backyard acts as an extension of the celebration and a great place for bored children to run off some energy
Your guests might not know your home’s layout or the potential hazards, especially children who are naturally curious and quick-moving.
That’s why a little water-safety planning can go a long way in keeping the festivities joyful, bright, and, most importantly, safe.
Before guests settle in, give them a quick tour of the outdoor areas, especially those with water features. Show guests the areas of concern around the pool, lake, or river on your property. Think of it as your home’s “orientation session,” minus the boring slideshow.
If you have a backyard pool, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a four-sided fence at least 4 feet tall that completely surrounds the pool. A self-closing and self-latching gate offers extra protection.
If a fence is not a possibility, the American Red Cross suggests assigning an adult “water watcher” to supervise closely and constantly when children are present, even if swimming is not part of the holiday agenda.
Lakes, rivers, and docks attract curious kids and adventurous adults. Removing temptations like chairs, slides, or recreational equipment from these areas can help reduce attention and prevent visitors from straying.
A locked gate at the dock entrance provides extra protection. Winter holidays not only bring cooler temperatures, but lake and pool waters also drop in temperature. A sudden and unexpected dip into cold water can be dangerous if you're not prepared for it.
The National Center for Cold Water Safety explains that when your body hits cold water, “cold shock” can trigger significant changes in breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone increase the risk of drowning, even for confident swimmers in calm waters.
Winter holidays and water safety need extra caution. Kyle Lewis, Brazos River Authority’s assistant reservoir manager and project manager at Lake Granbury, offers these tips: “Lock your pool gate. If you have a fence leading to your dock, lock that too. If kids are playing on the dock, they could easily slip and fall into the water. If you have a pool cover, keep it on.”
“An innocent fun holiday can turn into tragedy in a split second,” Lewis continues. “Cold water shock occurs in 77-degree water. Cold shock affects your cognitive abilities, heart rate, causes muscle cramping, impairs your ability to move, limits physical function, and causes loss of feeling in your extremities. Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees.”
Dylan Mayfield, Lake Granbury reservoir manager, adds, “For this time of year, most people never intend to be in the water. If you hit the water at this time of year, it can really bring your body temperature down fast.”
He advises, “Anyone with a dock on the water to consider installing a permanent ladder so that you can get in and out of the water quickly if you need to rescue someone who’s fallen in.”
Mayfield and Lewis will appear on an episode of Unpacking the Brazos River, where they will discuss cold-water safety and the use of life jackets with podcast host Charlie Shugart. You can listen to that episode and others here.
With a little preparation, you can create a safe, inviting environment for all your holiday guests, whether they’re experienced swimmers or firmly land-based creatures. Make sure the only splashes this season are from laughter and happy memories, not from an unexpected slip into cold water.