Follow these general water safety tips whenever swimming in any body of water, such as pools, lakes, ponds, quarries, canals, rivers, or oceans:
- Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
- Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
- Swim in areas that are supervised by a lifeguard.
- Children or inexperienced swimmers should take extra precautions, such as wearing a life jacket when around the water.
- Watch out for dangerous “too’s”- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity
- Set water safety rules for your family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
- Be knowledgeable of the water environment that you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions, and where the entry and exit points are located.
- Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.
- Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.
- Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
- Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving, or boating. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.