Editorial: Be prepared, be aware, be safe in the water

School is out, steamy days are ahead and COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted so it's a given that children and adults will seek out a cool dip to refresh and relax.

Pools, water parks, inland lakes and the Great Lakes will be magnets for people to exercise and splash about for the next two months. What better way to enjoy long, lazy days in the hot sun?

Yes, as long as you do it safely.

Distractions and lack of care in the water can have dangerous consequences. National Safety Council statistics show: on average, about 10 people die from drowning every day in the U.S.; while drowning deaths peak among 1- and 2-year-olds, they are the second leading cause of preventable death for children through age 15. Every year about 19 children drown during the July 4 holiday.

Drowning can happen in an instant - overexertion, venturing into water beyond a swimmer's ability, a toddler wandering through an open pool gate and lake or ocean rip currents lurk as potential dangers in the water.

Last week, a lifeguard at Birchwood Pool in Palatine rescued a child who was struggling after drifting into deep water.

An Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Lurie study stressed the need for families to practice water safety.

That starts with learning how to swim. Swimming lessons are a summer staple for many suburban families, but Lurie's study notes cost is a barrier for many low-income families. Local park districts, community and social service organizations must do what they can to make such lessons affordable and available to everyone who wants them.

But water safety doesn't end with knowing how to do the breast stroke. Being prepared, being aware and being careful are also critical.

Here are some guidelines for keeping children and adults safe:

• Learn CPR, first aid and swimming basics, such as reaching for the surface, floating, moving through water.

• Stay within arm's reach of young children and weak swimmers.

• Designate a "water watcher" who keeps an eye on children in the water and will not be distracted.

• Know the signs of drowning - gasping for breath, head tilted back, floating face down.

• Check weather updates before you go.

• Never swim alone.

• Don't drink alcohol while swimming - alcohol is involved in about half of all male teen drownings, according to KidsHealth.org.

Lake and ocean rip currents, which run perpendicular to shore, pose significant dangers for swimmers. To escape, experts say, don't fight the rip current or try to swim directly to shore if caught in one. Instead, remain calm and swim parallel to shore to escape.

Summers spent splashing in a pool or beach are part of what we endure six months of winter to enjoy, but be sure to pack a safe attitude along with the sunscreen.