Experts say there’s one skill almost everyone should know before getting in the water – CPR. To minimize the risk you should never swim alone.
Also, never dive into a lake or river because water levels fluctuate.
Children and non-swimmers should always wear a lifejacket.
And don’t overestimate your swimming ability.
Parents need to be extra vigilant.
"When parents are taking young children to swimming pools don’t rely on just the lifeguards who are there to save them. They still need to keep an eye on the kids and watch them very carefully," said Dr. Tom Tallman, an emergency room physician at Cleveland Clinic.
Boaters should also be on high alert.
Coast Guard researchers say drowning was the reported cause of death in almost three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities last year, and 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
