Glossary of Terms

Find definitions for common terms related to water safety and drowning prevention.

A

Adaptive aquatics: Architectural, equipment, instructional, and programmatic modifications to aquatic programs to serve individuals with disabilities. 

Aquatic facility: A fixed site with infrastructure designed and maintained for single or multiple aquatic activities. May be private, semi-private, public, commercial, or non-commercial.

B

Barrier: A fence, wall, structure, or combination thereof, completely surrounding a pool, with a self-closing, self-latching gate or door to prevent unsupervised pool access.

Best practice: Health practices, methods, interventions, procedures, or techniques based on high-quality evidence (as opposed to standard practice).

Buoyancy aid: A Level 70 U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device that is designed to not turn and to hold the user with the face out of the water.

C

Community of practice: A group of people who share an interest in a topic and come together to fulfill both individual and group goals. Communities of practice often focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance professional practice. Interaction on an ongoing basis is an important component.

Cultural competence: Behaviors, attitudes, and policies that work together to enable effective work in cross-cultural situations. 

D

Designated swim area: Areas in natural waters designed and operated for swimming and playing. 

F

First responders: Persons with specialized training who are among the first to provide assistance at the scene of an emergency. 

H

Human-powered vessel: A vessel that relies on human power of its occupants to move. 

I

Isolation fencing: Safety fencing with self-closing, self-latching gate that surrounds a pool completely. Contrasted with a barrier wherein a house wall with an opening that allows entry, such as a door, forms part of the barrier. 

N

Natural water: Body of untreated water sourced through the hydrologic cycle (rainfall, snowmelt, runoff, springs, etc.) and bounded primarily by geologic features rather than manufactured structures. Includes natural springs, cenotes, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and flooded areas as well as engineered enclosures such as canals, ponds, reservoirs, and quarries. Does not include waters in manufactured containers such as buckets, barrels, water troughs, swimming pools, spas, or bathtubs. 

O

Open water: An unobstructed expanse in a large body of natural water, such as lakes, rivers, or ocean. 

P

Personal flotation device: A U.S. Coast Guard-approved buoyant device designed for boater protection and categorized as commercial, recreational, or throwable. Includes wearable life jackets and throwables such as cushions and life ring buoys. Buoyancy levels of 50, 70, 100, or 150 Newtons have replaced previous designations of Types I through V. 

Public safety personnel: Persons with specialized training who are among the first to provide aid at the scene of an emergency. Includes police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and park rangers. 

R

Residential pool: A swimming pool located on private property under control of the owner or renter and intended to be used solely by members of the household and invited guests. May apply to shared condo or apartment pools. The legal definition varies among jurisdictions. 

S

S.M.A.R.T. objective: A form of objective which facilitates creation, monitoring and achievement of short-and-long-term goals (S-specific, M-measurable, A-achievable, R-relevant, T-time-bound). 

Standard practice: Practices, methods, procedures, or techniques that are commonly done based on customs, traditions, or existing norms. 

Surveillance: The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of drowning-related data essential to planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention. 

Syndromic surveillance: Near-real-time monitoring of illness or injuries for early detection of and response to outbreaks.

U

U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket: A device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard or its authorized agencies to assist its wearer to stay afloat and face up in water. May be inherently buoyant, inflatable, or a hybrid of the two. 

W

Water competency: Being able to anticipate, avoid, and survive common drowning situations, as well as being able to recognize and provide assistance to those in need. Includes water safety awareness, basic swimming skills, and helping others. 

Water rescue skills: Out of water (Reach, Throw, Row) and in-water rescue skills.