After a string of recent deaths and temperatures rising this week, officials are encouraging people in Maine to keep safety in mind when enjoying the water.

“Once it’s warm enough in Maine to access natural water sources, we might make decisions that we wouldn’t otherwise, and people are often not as competent swimmers as they think,” said Brooke Teller, founder and executive director of Maine Community Swimming, citing an American Red Cross report.

According to the Red Cross, 80% of adults say they can swim, but less than half can perform the five water competency skills required to save their own lives.

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Popham Beach Lifeguard Supervisor Sean Vaillancourt agreed, urging people to have emergency plans in place and know their physical limits.

“Be prepared. Never swim alone. Notice your location and how you’re feeling at all times,” Vaillancourt said, as he prepares for the Fourth of July long weekend.

In June, the Maine Warden Service recovered the body of a Rockland man from Chickawaukie Lake; a 4-year-old from Boston died after a drowning incident in a hotel pool, according to Kennebunk Fire Rescue; and a Westbrook woman went missing while looking for golf balls in a pond.

Here are tips from Teller, Vaillancourt and other experts on how to stay safe in and around the water.

SAFETY AT THE BEACH AND POOLS

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While at the beach, Vaillancourt cautioned against digging holes in the sand above knee-level, especially for infants and children, and said always fill holes back in when no longer supervising.

“People don’t think about this, but it’s one of the highest risks we see. When little kids get, or fall, into these holes, and the sand collapses, it is incredibly difficult for us to get them out before suffocation occurs,” he said.

In the event of lightning or thunderstorms, Vaillancourt reminded beachgoers to cooperate with staff, clearing the beach immediately when asked or when storm sirens sound.

The U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan said that, before swimming in outdoor pools, ensure they are up to the state safety code, which requires four-sided pool fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported drowning as the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 14, most of which the agency said are preventable. Designate an adult to watch children within arm’s reach. Don’t rely on lifeguards alone or become distracted by phones, books or alcohol, according to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA).

In the ocean, rip currents are the leading hazard at beaches and can move faster than an Olympic swimmer, according to the National Weather Service. If caught in one, don’t fight it: float on your back, then swim parallel to the beach until free, before angling back toward the beach, the weather service advised. Avoid rocky areas with strong wave action.

In rivers, according to Teller, currents can be deceptively strong and water levels can change quickly. Avoid wading or swimming alone in moving water.

It is important to watch for warning signs of overheating. One to be on the lookout for is lack of sweating, said Dr. Samir Haydar, vice chair of emergency medicine at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland.

“When you reach a point where your body’s really trying to dissipate heat, what it tries to do is sweat the heat out,” Haydar said. “But when your body starts losing that battle, you start noticing that you stop sweating, and that is a telltale sign, as well.”

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HELPING STRUGGLING SWIMMERS

If you are struggling in the water, stay calm and lean back to float by tilting your head back so your nose and mouth are clear of the water, USLA advised. Your lungs act like a natural life vest. Stay where you are and signal for help. Fighting the current or trying to swim to shore will be your first instinct, but it can lead to exhaustion, according to USLA.

Don’t jump in after a struggling swimmer. A panicked person can pull a rescuer under, Vaillancourt said.

Instead, Vaillancourt said, call 911, and throw a flotation device or reach with a pole or paddle — coolers or branches can also serve as makeshift devices. Going in after someone should be a last resort reserved for confident swimmers, he said.

“So often people go in after others and become a second or third victim,” he said. “If you must enter the water, bring a flotation device and keep it between you and the person in trouble.”

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COLD WATER SAFETY

Even on a hot day, rivers, lakes and the ocean in Maine can be cold enough to trigger cold shock. U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Lyric Jackson recommended swimmers of all skill levels ease into cold water rather than jumping in.

With cold water temperatures, hypothermia becomes a significant risk and can set in within an hour of being in the water, and you can start seeing signs of it within 30 minutes, Haydar said.

Jackson said that if a bystander sees someone in cold shock to first call 911. While waiting for medical personnel, gradually warm the person, replace wet clothing, cover their head and neck with a hat or scarf when possible, and seek contact with dry, warm surfaces that are close to normal body temperature, she said.

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AVOID ALCOHOL

According to the CDC, alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation among adolescents and adults.

“Sometimes people make the mistake of drinking alcohol and enjoying the outdoors, and when you’re swimming around a boat, that becomes a lot more dangerous,” Haydar said.

Alcohol consumption can add to the danger, he said.

“You want to make sure that if you’re in the water, you’re a competent swimmer, that you’re using your appropriate life vests and life safety devices,” Haydar said. “(Be sure to) stay hydrated and not with alcohol.”

BOATING SAFETY

The U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan reported that wearing a life jacket when boating cuts the risk of drowning in half.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife advises people to get familiar with the body of water by checking a map for depths and hazards, go out with another person, and tell someone on shore their route and expected return time. Paddlers should also take a rescue class and practice in controlled settings, according to Jackson.

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