Tips to prevent drowning

Know the water. Know your limits. Wear a life jacket.

To have a good time around the water, plan ahead and use good judgment. To be safe, you need to think about the water conditions, your own limits and the use of safety gear like life jackets.

Know the water.

Cold water can kill. Many lakes and rivers are cold enough to cause hypothermia, even in summer. Calm rivers can hide swift currents, rocks and tree branches. High running rivers in the spring are most dangerous. Before you jump in, make sure you're in a designated swimming area, and remember the safest places to swim are those areas with lifeguards on duty.

Know your limits.

Swimming in lakes and rivers is harder than swimming in a pool. Drowning most often happens when someone gets too tired to make it back to shore. Friends who are there are tired too and can't help.

Wear a life jacket.

No matter how good a swimmer you are, it is easy to misjudge the water or your skills. Weather and water conditions change quickly. Once you get tired or fall in, it may be too late to put on a life jacket. Life jackets are sold in stylish designs, and they aren't as bulky as they used to be.