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Drowning Risks on Farms

Drowning on farms is not limited to ponds. This guide lists the places and situations to think about and points you to training and official guidance.

Where can drowning happen on a farm?

Ponds are the obvious place, but they are not the only one. Ditches, irrigation canals, creeks, stock tanks, cisterns, livestock water troughs, manure storage, buckets and washing areas have all been places where someone has been in danger. Make a list of every place on the farm where water or other liquid can collect, and mark which are reachable by a child.

Even shallow water can be a hazard for a small child. Think about every place where water or liquid can collect on your farm, including after heavy rain.

Walk the property with a child's eye view and notice what is reachable and unguarded.

Why are children at special risk?

Young children can reach water quickly and often without anyone noticing. They may not understand danger and may not call out. Drowning is often silent, which is one reason supervision and barriers matter. Share these rules with anyone who cares for your children, including relatives, neighbors and hired help.

Farm parents often work nearby and trust that they will hear a problem. A barrier between the child and the water is a safer plan than trusting your ears.

Talk with grandparents, babysitters and neighbors who care for your children, and share your rules. Check on them often, and never leave a young child alone near any water, even briefly.

What about adults and workers?

Adults can be at risk from falls, from slips on banks, from working near water alone, from heavy clothing and boots, from cold water shock and from vehicles or equipment that enter water. Alcohol and fatigue make everything worse. Ask workers what they have seen, because they may have noticed near misses that you have not.

If workers are near water as part of the job, OSHA and your state set rules and training requirements that vary by task. Ask them what applies.

Never work near deep water alone without a way to call for help.

• Falls from banks or equipment
• Working alone near water
• Boating without proper gear
• Heavy boots and clothing
• Alcohol or fatigue

How can we prevent drowning in general terms?

Layers of protection are the key: barriers and covers, supervision, rules, swimming skills, training and a plan for emergencies. No single measure is enough. Review barriers and covers each spring and after storms, because damage and wear can open gaps you did not notice.

Cover or secure tanks, cisterns and manure structures as manufacturers and agencies advise, and keep buckets and troughs from becoming hazards for toddlers.

Check local codes and ask your extension office what is required or recommended where you live.

What about boats, ice and floods?

If you use boats, check that everyone has gear that fits, and follow state boating rules, which vary. Do not go onto ice unless you have official local guidance, and be cautious near flood water, which can hide hazards and move quickly. If a flood warning is issued, follow official instructions from emergency management and keep children and animals away from moving water.

The National Weather Service posts warnings for floods and other hazards. Learn how your county sends alerts.

Never drive or walk through moving water.

What should we do if someone is in trouble?

Call 911 right away. Do not enter the water unless trained, because would-be rescuers sometimes become victims. Follow the dispatcher's guidance, and have someone meet responders at the road. If you are not trained, direct your efforts toward calling for help, keeping watch on the person and guiding responders. Stay calm and give the dispatcher clear information about where you are and what happened.

Recognized organizations teach water safety and CPR. This site does not provide rescue or resuscitation steps, so take a class with hands-on practice.

After an event, seek medical attention for anyone who was in the water, even if they seem fine.

Where can we learn more?

The American Red Cross offers water safety and first aid training in many areas, and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation and extension offices offer farm safety programs. Ask what is available near you. Ask about family classes so everyone on the farm learns the same things at the same time. Ask whether your local library or school also offers swimming programs for children.

The CDC and NIOSH publish information on drowning and agricultural hazards.

Check local schedules, costs and requirements directly with each provider.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.