Lakes, Rivers and Open Water: Your Questions

It can be, if you choose a guarded swim area and know the risks. Almost half of drowning deaths among people 15 and older happen in natural water such as lakes, rivers and oceans (CDC (opens in a new tab)). The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says to be water competent for natural water before you swim there, because it is not your home pool, and to enter unknown water feet first. Children should wear life jackets. Read why lakes are not pools.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Natural water hides hazards a pool does not have. The CDC (opens in a new tab) lists currents, waves, rocks, plants and limited visibility. The National Park Service (opens in a new tab) adds sudden drop-offs, cold water that can trigger cold shock, fallen trees that can trap swimmers, and distances that are farther than they look. The Army Corps of Engineers reminds swimmers that natural water is different from a pool and that swimming ability declines with age (opens in a new tab). See lake swimming safety.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), nps.gov (opens in a new tab), dvidshub.net (opens in a new tab)

Don't fight it; float and work your way out. If you fall in, Minnesota's DNR (opens in a new tab) says to keep your feet pointed downstream and off the bottom so they don't get snagged, and to stay upstream of your boat so you aren't pinned against a rock or log. The National Park Service (opens in a new tab) warns that currents can look calm on the surface while moving fast underneath, and can tire out even experienced swimmers. Wear a life jacket on any river trip. See river safety.

Sources: dnr.state.mn.us (opens in a new tab), nps.gov (opens in a new tab)

A low-head dam is a wall built all the way across a river or stream, with a drop of anywhere from six inches to 25 feet, that water flows over. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (opens in a new tab) says the water below can form a recirculating current that pushes people underwater and spins them around, making escape very difficult, and that these dams are not always visible from upstream or downstream. Nearly 800 deaths have been recorded at low-head dams in the U.S. Keep away from them on the water, and when in doubt, get out and scout. See low-head dams.

Sources: nid.sec.usace.army.mil (opens in a new tab), weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

Quarries hide hazards you can't see. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (opens in a new tab) says water-filled quarries and pits hide rock ledges, machinery, electrical currents and other hazards, can be deceptively deep and dangerously cold, and have steep, slippery walls that make getting out hard. Its message for active and abandoned mine sites is simple: stay out, stay alive. Choose a lifeguarded beach instead. See quarries, ponds and reservoirs.

Source: msha.gov (opens in a new tab)

It is better to wait. The CDC (opens in a new tab) says heavy rain washes things like human and animal poop into swim areas, and advises checking online whether a swim area is under an advisory or closed, especially after heavy rain. Stay out if the water looks cloudier than usual, is discolored or smells bad, and don't swallow it. Rain also raises rivers fast: the National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) says flash flooding can begin within 6 hours of heavy rain. See is the water safe to swim in?

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), weather.gov (opens in a new tab)

It can look like foam, scum, mats or paint on the water, and it can turn the water green, blue, brown or red. The CDC (opens in a new tab) says cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are the most common cause of harmful algal blooms in fresh water, and that blooms can cause mild to serious illness. Pets can get very sick or even die within hours of contact. CDC's advice: stay out if the water looks discolored, has scum or smells bad, and keep pets out too. See algae blooms and water quality.

Source: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Electric shock drowning happens when faulty wiring on a dock, marina or boat leaks electrical current into the water, and the current paralyzes a swimmer so they can't stay afloat. The National Fire Protection Association (opens in a new tab) says it is most common in fresh water, that victims often feel nothing before they are incapacitated, and that most cases have occurred at private residential docks. Never swim near a marina, dock or boatyard with electrical power. If you feel tingling, swim back the way you came and get out without touching metal ladders. See electric shock drowning.

Source: nfpa.org (opens in a new tab)

Yes, the whole time they are in, on or near the water. The AAP (opens in a new tab) says children should always wear life jackets in, on or near natural bodies of water such as lakes and rivers, and the CDC (opens in a new tab) says children should use life jackets for all activities in and around natural water. Choose a U.S. Coast Guard-approved jacket that fits now, and keep watching. See life jackets for babies and children.

Sources: healthychildren.org (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)

Only feet first, into water you know is deep and clear, away from boats and power. The Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says to always enter unknown or shallow water feet first, and to dive only where the water is clearly marked safe for diving and at least 9 feet deep with no obstacles. The National Park Service (opens in a new tab) warns that murky water can hide fallen trees, rocks and sudden shallow spots. Avoid docks with electrical power: the NFPA (opens in a new tab) warns of electric shock drowning near docks and marinas. See jumping and diving safety.

Sources: redcross.org (opens in a new tab), nfpa.org (opens in a new tab), nps.gov (opens in a new tab)

Look for a designated swim area with lifeguards and current water quality checks. The CDC (opens in a new tab) says to choose swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible, and to check online whether a site is monitored, under advisory or closed (opens in a new tab). In parks, the National Park Service (opens in a new tab) suggests asking a ranger where to swim and checking current and water-level warnings. Skip quarries, dams and spots near marinas. See lake swimming safety.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), nps.gov (opens in a new tab)

Natural water accounts for a large share of drownings. For children 5 to 14, over 40% of drownings happen in natural water (CDC (opens in a new tab)). At U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and rivers in 2024, 91% of people who drowned were not wearing life jackets, 94% were male and 87% were adults 18 and older (USACE via DVIDS (opens in a new tab)). That makes life jackets the simplest fix. See lake swimming safety.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), dvidshub.net (opens in a new tab)

Fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for children and weaker swimmers, a charged phone, something that floats to throw, drinking water and sun protection. The CDC (opens in a new tab) also says to check the weather forecast before you go and to always swim with a buddy, and the Red Cross (opens in a new tab) says to leave the water right away if you hear thunder. Name a Water Watcher before anyone gets in. The lists it all. See lake swimming safety.

Sources: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab), redcross.org (opens in a new tab)

Choose your swim spot in advance: a guarded beach or designated area, with no dam, quarry or marina nearby. Check its water quality page and the forecast, as the CDC (opens in a new tab) suggests. Make sure every child has a life jacket that fits, using the , and agree on who will watch. Our infographic is a good one to share with family before the trip. See why lakes are not pools.

Source: cdc.gov (opens in a new tab)