Stay Safe on the Water This Summer

Northwest Indiana’s location on the shore of Lake Michigan provides residents of our region with a unique asset for summer recreation. Whether at the beach or by the swimming pool, it is important for residents and visitors to be aware must be aware of risks to themselves and their families when in the water. Follow these tips to keep safe:

• Enroll children over the age of three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors.
• Swim at guarded beaches.
• Never consume alcohol while operating a boat.
• Use approved life jackets.
• Ensure constant, uninterrupted supervision of children. If you must leave, take the child with you or have another adult supervise the child.
• Remember that rivers and lakes can have undertows.
• If you are caught in a rip current, follow the "flip, float, and follow" strategy: flip onto your back, float to keep your head above water, and follow the current until it weakens, then swim away from the current before heading ashore.

Visit http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/rip/index.html for more information about dangerous currents and water safety.