We are blessed to live in an area where we are surrounded by so many beautiful bodies of water. I know I’m not alone in taking advantage of this and spending many weekends on one of the area lakes. Swimming and other water exercises are good for our bodies, but we also have to be mindful of safety when we are in or on the water.First and foremost, if you are not a strong swimmer, make sure you wear a life vest. Deep, open waterways are no place to try to become a strong swimmer – do that in a pool under the watchful eye of a lifeguard or instructor. Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as "water wings") in place of life jackets or life preservers with children. Using air-filled swimming aids can give parents and children a false sense of security, which may increase the risk of drowning. These air-filled aids are toys and are not designed to be personal-flotation devices. After all, air-filled plastic tubes can deflate because they can become punctured or unplugged.Here are a few more tips:

• Make sure you apply sunscreen while you are out on the water.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages while on the water or on a boat. Not only are your senses dulled, but alcohol can lead to dehydration.
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
• Don't get too tired, too cold, too far from safety, exposed to too much sun or experience too much strenuous activity.
• Never swim alone.

If you are planning to dive off the boat (or off a bridge overpass or cliff, as I might have done a time or two), make sure you know what is in the water where you are about to land. Area lakes, especially, have trees and rocks that line the bottom, and the last thing you’d want to do is land on one of those!If you are diving off of a higher structure or watercraft, make sure you wearing a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer. If you are diving off a cliff above a waterfall (which I also might have done a time or two), make sure you aware of what the current is like below before you take the plunge.Lastly, but certainly not of least importance, jump in feet first! Do not dive in head first. Diving is the leading sports-related cause of spinal cord injuries. Many diving incidents leave the diver paralyzed from the neck down. Entering the water in perfect 10 Olympic form is certainly not worth the risk.Have fun this summer on the water!