Water Safety (Recreational)
Reading this article
Topic pages summarize public health information in plain language. They may describe common causes and treatments in general terms; your own plan of care depends on your clinician’s exam, history, and tests. Use what you read here to prepare questions—not to start, stop, or change medications or to self-diagnose.
Playing in the water - whether swimming, boating or diving - can be fun. It can also be dangerous, especially for children. Being safe can help prevent injuries and drowning. To stay safe in the water:
- Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating
- Wear a life jacket whenever you're in a boat
- Don't swim alone, or in bad weather
- Learn CPR
- Learn to swim and teach your children to swim
- Supervise your children when they are in the water
- Prevent sunburns - use plenty of sunscreen