AeroCare offers tips on how to prevent water sports accidents

Jun. 13—As the weather heats up, so does the activity in area waters. AeroCare reminds Odessa residents and visitors to be safe when boating and swimming in open water areas. In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard reported more than 3,800 recreational boating accidents resulting in 564 deaths and 2,126 injuries. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide.

While drowning accidents can happen any time of the year, incidents increase during warm weather months when more people enjoy water recreation. Most drowning incidents occur in open water, lakes, rivers, ponds and the open sea where lifeguards are limited.

Kenneth Hawley, program director for AeroCare, has several suggestions to help prevent water accidents.

Here are a few steps to keep you safe while boating:

— Always wear a lifejacket or personal floatation device

— Take a boating safety course

— Avoid alcohol use

— Check the weather forecast

— Learn to swim

— Never stand up in your small powerboat, canoe or similar watercraft

— Don't overload your boat

— Use common sense and operate responsibly

— Things to keep in mind when swimming:

— Never swim alone

— Only use approved flotation devices; do not rely on toys or inner tubes

— Don't take chances by overestimating your swimming skills

— Swim only in designated swimming areas

— Watch small children near water

— Never dive into rivers or lakes, each year nearly 3,000 people are paralyzed as a result of diving into shallow water or hitting an unseen water obstruction

To learn more about boating safety, please visit www.americanboating.org.