Headed Out To The Water This Summer? First, Check Out These Safety Tips For Beaches And The Great Outdoors

Now that the weather is warmer, Angelenos are looking for ways to get outside and cool off — but conditions in the water can change quickly, and knowing how to stay safe in the water beforehand could make all the difference.

Drowning deaths have been on the rise in recent years — the Center for Disease Control reported this month that drownings are the most common cause of death for children from 1-4 years old, having increased between 2019 and 2022.

One of the most important ways to stay safe is maintaining a close eye on where your loved ones are if they're in or near water. Rob Klusman, president of Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, recommends staying close to trained lifeguards whenever possible.

"Lifeguards can make quite a difference if something should happen, so trying to stay close to lifeguard towers is always the best practice," Klusman said.

Lake safety

Lakes and reservoirs are one of the main places where drownings in Southern California occur: Some lakes have been closed entirely to swimmers, but any large body of water can pose dangers.

If you have plans from to spend time at a lake this summer, here are some tips, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service:

• Do not dive into the water. Jumping from cliffs or bridges is dangerous due to shallow water, submerged rocks, trees, or other hazards.
• Choose swimming areas carefully and swim only during low water conditions.
• Always swim with a buddy and in supervised areas, preferably ones with a lifeguard on duty.
• Always supervise children closely. Do not read, play cards, talk on the phone, or engage in any other distracting activity while watching children in or around water.
• Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming or boating. Avoid drinking alcohol while supervising children around water.
• Learn to swim. Enroll yourself and your children in swimming classes. However, don't consider your children to be “drown-proof” since a child who falls into water unexpectedly may panic and forget learned swimming skills.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Because of the time it might take for emergency services to arrive, your CPR skills can make a difference in saving someone's life.
• Use life jackets that meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements when boating, regardless of distance to be traveled, size of boat, or swimming ability of boaters.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as water wings, noodles, or inner tubes, in place of life jackets. These are toys and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous to swimmers and boaters.

Beach safety

Of course, rip currents and high surf at beaches can also pose life-threatening dangers to swimmers. If you're planning on taking a dip in the Pacific as it warms up for the summer, here's some tips to stay safe:

• Always keep one eye on the water to detect large unexpected waves.
• Face the water when you're very near the waves.
• Check the forecast for high surf advisory before going to the beach.
• Know the tides so rising water doesn't trap you.
• Observe the waves when arriving at the beach. Double the highest wave you see to estimate how high the waves might get during your visit.
• Wear a life jacket when fishing or tide pooling because these activities require you to be very near the surf with your attention diverted.
• Beware of the cold water, it can quickly sap your strength.
• If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current, then swim toward shore.
• Keep a close watch on children even if they are far from the water. They can quickly enter the water and get in trouble when your attention is diverted for only a moment.
• Don't go in the water after someone in trouble. Rescue from shore and get help.

River safety

Even if you're not planning on swimming in them, rivers can still pose threats to your safety while on hikes. Fast-moving water pose a special danger to young children, Klusman said.

"It does not take very much moving water to knock somebody off of their feet," he said. "In fact, as little as six inches of water, if somebody's of small stature and the water's moving fast, they can easily be knocked off of their feet."

And since many California rivers are flowing with increased capacity and at colder temperatures than normal, Klusman recommended exercising extra caution around them now, since cold water can make muscles freeze up.

Another tip from Klusman for crossing fast-moving rivers and streams: If you have a hiking pole or large stick handy, use it to keep you steady in the river.

"Then shuffle your way across the stream without lifting your feet up, so you always maintain at least two points of contact and preferably three points of contact," Klusman said.

The U.S. Forest Service has shared these tips for staying safe in creeks and rivers:

• Avoid rock hopping. Stream polished rocks along the water's edge may be slippery when wet or dry.
• If you choose to cross a stream by going through it, study the area first. Avoid deep and/or swift water.
• When crossing on a natural bridge of rocks or logs, consider where you will land if you fall. Never cross above rapids or falls.
• If you are crossing a stream, unbuckle your pack's waist strap so you can shed it if you fall to prevent being pulled under by its weight. Consider putting on a waterproof backpack, which becomes a floating device to help your head stay above water.
• Do not tie yourself into safety ropes — they can drown you.
• If you fall into fast-moving water, do not try to stand up. The force of the water will push you over and hold you under. Most drownings result from getting a leg or ankle caught in an underwater rock ledge, between boulders or snagged in tree limbs or other debris. Lay on your back with your feet pointing downstream and toes pointing up toward the surface. Always look downstream and be prepared to fend off rocks with your feet.
• If you don't know how to swim, wear a life vest that meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements.