Phones Down Eyes Up text on a phone with an illustrated water background

Phones Down, Eyes Up™

When at the pool, beach, or lakeside, remember: Your eyes can save lives.

Take the water safety pledge today.

Responding to a text, answering an email, listening to a podcast, or making a grocery list—these tasks may seem quick and harmless, but those few seconds of distraction can add up. And distractions around water can lead to serious, even fatal, consequences. In fact, 88% of children drown with at least one adult present.

That’s why families must designate a Water Watcher—an adult who stays focused and free from distractions like phones, conversations, or alcohol who can maintain constant visual contact with all children in or near the water. Your feed can wait. Their safety can’t.

Watch the official public service announcement for the Phones Down, Eyes Up water safety campaign, brought to you by YMCA of the USA. 

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What You Can Do

  • Take the pledge below to power down and put your phones away when watching children near or around water. When you take the pledge, you can download a free lockscreen for your phone as a visual reminder. Also, the first 1,000 people to take the pledge will receive a free Water Watcher lanyard!
  • Assign Water Watchers for short periods of time (15-20 minutes) when in large groups.
  • Download a Water Watcher badge (English | Spanish) to print at home. After a short time, the Water Watcher badge is passed to another adult who is alert and responsible for actively supervising children in or near water. The badge not only helps you remember the very important task of watching children in or near water, but it also clearly identifies you as someone who can help if needed.
  • Share the pledge on social media and remind family and friends that their eyes can save lives.

Take the Pledge

Take the Phones Down, Eyes Up Pledge and make the commitment to help keep kids safe in and around water--this summer and all year long--by agreeing to:

  • Actively watch children in and around water.
  • Keep my eyes on the water.
  • Avoid distractions like talking on the phone, socializing, or reading while watching children.
  • Keep a phone nearby for emergencies.
  • Remain by the water until relieved by a new water watcher.

When you take the pledge, you will also get instant access to a downloadable free lock screen wallpaper for your phone. And, beginning May 16, the first 1,000 people to take the pledge will also receive a free Water Watcher lanyard!  (See official rules here).

More Water Safety Tips

What Parents Need to Know to Keep Kids Safe in the Water This Summer

In a new Good Morning America segment, the Y’s director of aquatics and water safety shares simple, life‑saving tips to help families stay safe as pool season begins.

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Safety Around Water at the Y

The Y is committed to water safety all year long. Each year, we teach over one million children important water safety and swimming skills through our Safety Around Water program. Discover what sets the Y’s Safety Around Water program apart and find a program near you.

Water Watcher Lanyard Giveaway Info

Water Watcher lanyards are available to the first 1,000 eligible individuals who complete the Phones Down, Eyes Up Water Watcher pledge and submit the required shipping information, while supplies last. No purchase, donation, YMCA membership, or program participation is required. Limit one lanyard per person and per household. Offer is open only to legal residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. Submission of a pledge does not guarantee receipt of a lanyard. YMCA of the USA will use the information submitted in connection with this offer to administer the pledge, communicate about water safety resources and YMCA-related updates, and fulfill the lanyard shipment. Mailing information may be shared with YMCA of the USA’s fulfillment vendor solely for fulfillment purposes. YMCA of the USA may modify, suspend, or end this offer if supplies are exhausted or if technical, operational, or other circumstances affect administration of the offer.