Background: Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children in Portugal. Despite the recognised importance of supervision, risky behaviours persist regarding childhood exposure to aquatic environments. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, practices, and competencies of parents and caregivers regarding water safety.Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured, multiple-choice questionnaire assessing water safety knowledge, supervision practices, swimming competencies, and attitudes towards pool safety legislation. The questionnaire was distributed between March and June 2025 via social media platforms and targeted parents and caregivers of children (0-18 years). Participants who consented to voluntary and anonymous responses were included. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, supervision practices, water safety knowledge, and competencies were collected. Statistical analysis was based on descriptive statistics (frequencies and means).Results: A total of 147 caregivers responded, with a mean age of 40.6 years, of whom 48.3% were women, caring for children with a mean age of 2.9 years. The majority demonstrated high levels of knowledge: 99.3% knew the meaning of beach warning flags and 97.3% preferred lifeguarded beaches. Regarding supervision, 98.6% reported constant vigilance, but only 66.7% supervised closely; 38.1% admitted leaving the child momentarily unattended. Swimming proficiency was self-reported by 93.9% of caregivers but reported for only 35.4% of children. The majority (72.1%) supported mandatory legislative measures for pool safety.Conclusions: Parents and caregivers demonstrate good water safety knowledge, but gaps persist in age-appropriate supervision relative to children's aquatic competencies. The disparity between adult and child aquatic competencies highlights the need for early swimming instruction programmes. These findings reinforce the importance of water safety education campaigns and support the implementation of comprehensive drowning prevention legislation.
