U.S. Coast Guard Academy Cadets and Coast Guard Tall Ship Eagle (WIX 327) crewmembers participate in a swim call in the Atlantic July 10, 2019 (Photo by: Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ruben Reed).
Before you even leave the house, VanHoesen said, bring provisions to "stay hydrated, bring sunscreen and layers of clothes should the weather change."
When swimming at beaches that do not have lifeguards, "it is extremely important to know your limitations," Lindemann said. "Do not do more than you are capable of. It is also important to know how to spot rips and tide changes when swimming at unguarded beaches," he added.
Rip currents "are strong, localized, and narrow currents of water that move directly away from shore, cutting through the lines of breaking waves like a river running out to sea," LIndemann explained.
If caught in a rip current, he offered this advice: The best practice is to relax and swim parallel to the shore until free from it. Do not tire yourself out by trying to swim directly back to the shore.
Here are some other tips to keep you and your family safe while in or near the water:
- Watch out for the "dangerous toos": too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun and too much strenuous activity.
- Have a means of summoning help (such as a mobile phone) close by. Water emergencies often happen quickly and unexpectedly.
- Get trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use.
- Always swim with a partner, especially in open water.
- Never swim when you are tired, under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
- Observe all posted warning signs.
- Do not run around the pool deck; it is wet and likely slippery.
- Do not let children roughhouse or play underwater breath-holding games.
- Watch the weather and stay out of the water during thunderstorms.
- Always make young children, inexperienced swimmers, and non-swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets whenever they are in, on, or around the water.
- Fence pools and spas with adequate barriers to prevent unsupervised access.
- Teach children to stay away from pool drains and other openings that create suction, which could lead to drowning.
- Know what kinds of animals are in the water with you and which to avoid.