Being out in open water is one of the best parts of summer! But it’s vitally important to stay safe while you are swimming. Take a look at Oakland County Sheriff’s swimming safety tips before taking a dip in your favorite lake or pool.

Swimming Safety Tips

When you’re out on the water it is very important to:

• Know how to swim
• Never swim alone
• Always swim in a designated area with a lifeguard on duty
• Keep an eye on little ones, they should never be more than a few feet away
• Never dive head first into water, diving in to water and not knowing how deep or shallow it is can cause serious injuries
• Never go swimming or operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol

Drowning is a Real Risk

Any great day can quickly turn in to a tragedy, drowning is a risk when anyone goes swimming. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of 15. Many people think that drowning takes a long time but it takes only 20-60 seconds for a struggling victim to drown and most drownings occur 10-15 feet from safety.

If you are unsure if someone needs help or not alert a lifeguard immediately. Here are some things to look out for when you are out on the water:

• Drowning victims do not have to ability to call for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing, speech is a secondary function. A drowning person is not getting enough air to breath; therefore they don’t have enough air to call for help.
• Drowning victim’s arms tend to extend laterally so it can appear that they are playing in the water.

For more info on swimming safety please go to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office’s Website. You can also “Like” Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.