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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.
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Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
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Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
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Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as
wearing a Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD)
when around the water.
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Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
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Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities
(for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than
chest deep).
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Be knowledgeable of the
water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep
and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the
entry and exit points are located. The more informed you are, the more
aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.
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Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
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Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.
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Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
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Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating. Alcohol impairs
your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and
diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm -- over 50 percent of drownings result from boating
incidents involving alcohol. For the same reasons it is dangerous to
operate an automobile while under the influence of alcohol, people
should not operate a boat while drinking alcohol.
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Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.