Jumping and Diving Into Lakes and Rivers: How to Avoid Injury

Go in feet first the first time, every time you're in water you don't know. Lakes, rivers and swimming holes hide rocks, logs and shallow spots, and the bottom can change from one week to the next, so a head-first dive can end in a broken neck.

Jumping off a dock, a rope swing or a rock is part of summer for many teens and adults. You can keep the fun and drop most of the risk with a few habits.

Shepherd Center, a spinal cord injury hospital in Atlanta, reports that diving is the fifth leading cause of spinal cord injury (opens in a new tab), based on data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Its page doesn't give a year for that ranking, but the message hasn't changed: diving injuries are common, and most are preventable.

Feet first, first time

The American Red Cross gives two rules for natural water:

• Always enter unknown or shallow water feet first. (opens in a new tab)
• Dive only in water clearly marked as safe for diving, at least 9 feet deep with no underwater obstacles. (opens in a new tab)

Most lakes, rivers and ponds aren't marked for diving at all. So in practice, natural water means feet first.

Why this matters so much: Shepherd Center explains that your body acts like a torpedo when diving, and water will not protect you from a severe impact if you hit an object or the bottom (opens in a new tab). A neck injury can happen in an instant, and it can be permanent.

Depth you can't see

In a pool, you can read the depth markers and see the floor. In natural water, you are guessing.

• The bottom hides things. Shepherd Center warns to be mindful of hidden objects in lakes, rivers and other natural bodies of water (opens in a new tab).
• Depth changes. Shepherd also says a spot you used to dive in might no longer be safe due to shifts in underwater surfaces (opens in a new tab). Last summer's deep spot may be shallow this year.
• Shallow isn't the only risk. Shepherd notes that some injuries happen by hitting the far side of a pool or swimming hole (opens in a new tab), not only the bottom.

Before anyone jumps, wade in or swim in feet first and check the landing area by feel. If you can't check it, don't jump.

Who gets hurt, and when

Diving injuries are not rare accidents that happen to someone else. According to Shepherd Center:

• Over half of diving injuries happen to divers aged 23 and under. (opens in a new tab)
• Most diving injuries happen during the summer months. (opens in a new tab)
• They happen in all types of water, including pools, lakes, rivers, creeks and swimming holes (opens in a new tab).

Almost half

Young people are most at risk for a reason. The American Academy of Pediatrics says teens may overestimate their swimming skills, misjudge the seriousness of water hazards or take impulsive risks (opens in a new tab). Friends cheering from the shore make that worse. Talk with your teen before the trip: see water safety for teens.

Cliffs, bridges and rope swings

Height adds danger. The Red Cross says do not enter the water from a height, such as a bridge or boat (opens in a new tab).

• Cliffs and quarry walls. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration warns that water-filled quarries hide rock ledges, machinery and other hazards (opens in a new tab) under the surface. See quarries, ponds and reservoirs.
• Waterfalls. The National Park Service says do not climb on rocks near waterfalls; they are slippery from mist and algae (opens in a new tab). See swimming holes and waterfalls.
• Bridges. The water under a bridge is often moving, and you can't see what's under the surface from above.
• Rope swings. A swing can carry you past the spot you checked, into water you haven't.

If you want to practice jumping and diving, a pool with a diving board, a marked deep end and a lifeguard is the place to do it.

The cold-water gasp when you jump

Even a perfect landing can go wrong if the water is cold. The National Weather Service says gasping or rapid breathing from sudden immersion can be triggered by water as warm as 77°F (opens in a new tab), and that this uncontrolled rapid breathing can quickly create a drowning emergency if you inhale water (opens in a new tab).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers puts it this way: if you fall or jump into water that is colder than 70 degrees, you can inhale water from involuntary gasping (opens in a new tab). The National Weather Service also warns that warm air doesn't always mean warm water (opens in a new tab), so a hot day can hide a cold lake. Read cold water shock to understand why.

Alcohol and jumping don't mix

Shepherd Center advises: avoid alcohol while swimming or diving. It impairs judgment and increases the risk of injury (opens in a new tab). CDC adds that you should avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities (opens in a new tab). More in alcohol and swimming.

If someone gets hurt

A first aid and CPR course teaches what to do while you wait for help. See where to learn CPR and reach or throw, don't go.

What you can do today

• Make "feet first, first time" a family rule, and say it out loud before every swim in new water.
• Ask your teen where their friends go to jump, and talk about cliffs, bridges and rope swings before summer.
• Find a local pool with a diving board and lifeguards for anyone who wants to learn to dive.
• Remind your group: no diving or jumping after drinking.