Water Safety Tips

Water Safety

As summer heats up, more people are utilizing bodies of water for recreation and cooling.  However, playing in and around water can increase the risk of drowning. Drowning is often silent and warning signs that someone is in danger can go unnoticed. Even highly skilled swimmers are susceptible to drowning. For more information on water safety, please click here. 

Water Safety Tips:

• Make sure you know how to swim. If you can’t swim, keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-guard approved life jacket
• Swim with a buddy, never alone, even if you are a very good swimmer
• Swim in designated areas, with a lifeguard present
• Swim sober: avoid drugs and alcohol to stay alert in the water
• Do not dive or jump into water that is not at least 12 feet deep. Enter the water feet-first, never dive head-first into a river, lake or pond. You could severely injure your head and neck, and drown
• Do not swim during a storm or when there is lightning
• Don’t swim in an area with strong moving currents in the water. Depth, currents, underwater debris and water temperature change constantly in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Yesterday’s safe swimming spot might have hidden dangers today.
• Keep a cell-phone handy and know where you are in case you need to call for help
• When in a boat, wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket