NDPA and Autism Society launch water safety toolkit for families

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance and The Autism Society of America have released a new “Away From Home” toolkit to help families plan for water safety when traveling or spending time in unfamiliar places. The resource is aimed at reducing drowning risk for autistic individuals, who face a far higher risk than their neurotypical peers.

Why it matters: - The new toolkit targets a safety gap that can emerge when families leave home and encounter unfamiliar water hazards. - The resource is designed for autistic individuals, who are reported to be 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. - The guide aims to help families plan ahead so travel, recreation and visits can happen more safely.

What happened: - The National Drowning Prevention Alliance and The Autism Society of America launched the “Away From Home” Water Safety and Autism Toolkit. - The toolkit is built for families and caregivers preparing for trips, vacations, visits and other time away from home. - The resource is available in English and Spanish. - The toolkit can be downloaded through the full resource.

The details: - The toolkit encourages families to make water safety part of the plan before arriving at a new destination. - It addresses risks tied to new environments, unfamiliar bodies of water, different supervision arrangements and unexpected access to water. - The resource also accounts for communication differences, sensory processing, safety awareness and responses to environmental changes that may affect autistic individuals. - The guide applies to vacation rentals, relatives’ homes, hotels, pools, beaches and new communities. - The goal is to help families identify risks, establish safety strategies and make sure everyone knows what to do before an incident occurs. - The toolkit frames preparation as a way to support safer participation in travel and family activities, not as a way to limit them.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a broader push to move water safety planning upstream, before families arrive at higher-risk settings. - The bilingual format suggests the organizations want the material to be easy to use for a wider set of caregivers. - The emphasis on planning and layered protection signals that the toolkit is intended as a practical checklist, not just an awareness campaign.

What's next: - Families, caregivers and professionals are being encouraged to review the toolkit before their next trip or outing. - The organizations are positioning water safety as something that should travel with families, not stay at home. - The resource may be used as part of trip planning for vacations, visits and community outings where water may not be obvious at first glance.