Water Safety for Autistic People

Oct 03, 2025

Water Safety for Autistic People

Why is Water Safety Especially Important for Autistic People?

Research shows that autistic children are 160 times more likely to drown than non-autistic children. A major reason for this risk is elopement, which means running or wandering away from parents, caregivers, or safe places. About 49% of autistic people elope, and sadly, more than 70% of drowning deaths in autism are linked to elopement.

Many autistic people are also drawn to water because of how it looks and sounds. Water can feel calming and interesting, which increases the risk. This makes it very important for families and caregivers to teach impulse control around water and to create safety plans that help prevent accidents.

Critical Information about Water Safety and Autism

The National Autism Association created a list of important facts about autism and water safety that caregivers should keep in mind:

Children may go directly toward water, no matter the type or temperature.
Even if a child doesn’t like bath time or swimming, they may still be drawn to ponds, rivers, lakes, fountains, or other natural water sources.
Use stories and visual aids to teach about water safety, trusted adults, and the rule to never approach water alone.
Always take steps to prevent wandering or elopement.
Swimming lessons help lower drowning risk but do not make a child completely safe—constant supervision is still needed.
If you own a pool, keep it fenced in with self-closing, self-latching gates that children can’t reach. Remove all toys when not in use.
Let neighbors with pools know about your child’s tendency to wander.
If your autistic child goes missing, always check water areas first.

Are Life Jackets a Good Idea?

Life jackets (also called personal flotation devices or PFDs) are very important for children and adults when near natural bodies of water like ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans, or when doing activities like boating, kayaking, or paddle boarding. Even so, there are some important things that you should keep in mind when picking out a life jacket for you child and when using a life jacket.

Choosing the Right Life Jacket:

Choose the Right Type – Certain types of life jackets (Type I or Type 2) are designed to make users float face up. Floating face-up keeps children’s faces out of the water and reduces the risk that they will drown. Type III life jackets generally have a more comfortable design, but won’t necessarily make a child float face-up. Look for the roll icon to determine whether a life jacket will make a user float face-up.
Ensure Proper Fit – Life jackets must fit a child’s size and weight. The Boat US Foundation has a guide to help with proper fitting.
Test it Out – Before using it in open water, try the life jacket in a safe area to make sure it works.

Life jacket symbols indicating that they cannot turn an unconscious person face up (left) and that the life jacket can turn an unconscious person face up (right).

Controlled Water Environments

In pools, the use of life jackets or PFDs is debated. Many swim experts recommend swim lessons instead of using floatation devices. But since lessons can be expensive or unavailable, some families may need another option.

Miss Dayna from Water Safety with Miss Dayna suggests using life jackets in pools only if all of these are true:

Your child cannot swim independently
Your child cannot yet save themselves in the water
The water is too deep for them to stand in
There are no stairs or steps for them to use
They do not want to be held the entire time

If all five are true, follow these rules:

Always stay within arm’s reach and actively watch your child.
Make sure your child spends equal time in and out of the flotation device.
Let them practice swimming without a PFD if they can touch the bottom.
Teach them the phrase: “Where there is water, I will wait!”
Never let your child jump into the pool while wearing a PFD.

While PFDs can be good tools for helping autistic kids enjoy spending time in water, it is important to remember that they are not a substitute for knowing how to swim. Therefore, it is important to teach children to stay away from water unless you say it’s okay to go in.

Other Ways to Protect Against Drowning and Teach Water Safety

If you would like some guidelines on water safety, The National Autism Association created the “Have you P.A.S.S.E.D. the Water Safety Test?” to help families stay safe. P.A.S.S.E.D. stands for:

Protective Barriers & Gear – Install fences, gates, and covers for pools and hot tubs. Always use life jackets near natural water.
Alarms & Safeguards – Use alarms on pools, gates, doors, and windows. Remove toys from the water after use. Add stop-sign visuals to doors and pool areas.
Swimming Lessons – Sign your child up for lessons early. Ask if there are autism-friendly options. For autistic children, have the final lesson done in clothes and shoes.
Supervision – Always supervise children closely without distractions. Stay within arm’s reach.
Education – Teach safety rules, where it is safe to swim, how to recognize dangers, and the role of lifeguards. Use social stories and visuals to explain these ideas.
Don’t Swim Alone – Children and adults should always swim with a trusted adult. Use schedules, stories, and visuals to teach autistic children that they should never enter water alone.

Risk Assessment

Fill out our worksheet below to see if your home has any water safety blind spots!

Water Safety Worksheet

Final Thoughts

Water safety is important for all children, but it is especially critical for autistic people. Using visuals, stories, and clear rules can help lower the risks of accidents. By staying alert, teaching skills, and adding safety measures, families and communities can greatly reduce drowning risks and help autistic people enjoy the water safely.

Article by: EmilieAnne Misamore and The Autism ToolKit