Buddy Up
Swim in Designated Areas
While it's tempting to be adventurous and head to hidden and remote areas to swim, it's important to stick to designated areas to avoid unknown hazards and dangerous conditions you might not be familiar with.
Read the Signs
Look for and obey all posted signs – they will designate safe areas, alert to you to potentially hazardous conditions and will usually contain vital information that you may need to use in an emergency situation.
Keep an Eye on the Kids
Never leave children unattended near water for even a minute — they can disappear under water or get carried away by a wave in the blink of an eye. Young children can drown silently in as little as 25 seconds, even in the shallow end or in a baby pool. Also, don't entrust a child's safety to another child.
Play By the Rules
Establish rules for your family and make sure they are enforced. This means setting limits according to each individual's ability and setting safety guidelines. For example, no playing around drains and other pool equipment and forbidding endurance games like breath-holding contests or hyperventilating before swimming.
Stay Vigilant
Don't let a tranquil outdoor setting fool you — any body of water can potentially be hazardous. Extremely cold temperatures, strong currents and underwater hazards can turn a seemingly calm ocean shoreline, lake or stream into a dangerous situation. Stay close to shore, buddy-up and always pay attention to posted signs.
Recognize Signs of Secondary Drowning
Secondary drowning is when a small amount of water gets into the lungs causing inflammation and difficulty breathing, with symptoms occurring up to 24 hours later. The condition is rare (they only make up 1 to 2 percent of drowning incidents) but can be fatal. Be aware of symptoms like coughing, chest pain, lethargy and fever.
