General water safety tips

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim.
• Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
• Swim in supervised areas only.
• Obey all rules and posted signs.
• Watch out for the "dangerous too's" -- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Don’t mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs judgement, balance and coordination, affects swimming and diving skills, and reduces the body's ability to stay warm.
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
• Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.

Source: American Red Cross