The 20 Biggest Mistakes People Make Around Water

An estimated 3,500 people die each year from drowning and approximately 20 percent of those deaths are children under the age of 5. This summer, as the heat index rises and more of us hit the beaches and pools to stay cool, it's important to learn the most common mistakes that can lead to accidental drowning or injury. Find out the top 20 things not to do when you're near water to keep you and your family safe this summer.

Since alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes people less aware of their surroundings, it only makes sense that the risk for drowning increases when someone is intoxicated. The World Health Organization notes that an estimated 360,000 people drown annually and, along with age and socioeconomic status, lists alcohol as a potential risk factor. Although little research has been done, a 2004 study found that alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of drowning approximately 10 to 30 percent.

Most beaches around the world use a flag warning system to notify beachgoers of potential water hazards like dangerous rip currents, jellyfish infestations or even shark sightings. Sadly, not everyone pays attention to these flags, putting themselves at risk when they decide to enter the water. Take note of flags on and around the beach and make sure you understand what they mean. As a rule of thumb, red flags traditionally mean the water is unsafe, even for the most experienced swimmers.

Swimming with a buddy isn't just good advice because it's more fun—it can keep you alive. While rare, the risk of getting attacked by a shark increases when you're alone in the water (it's easier for the shark). Along with helping deter predators, swimming with a friend means someone is also there to call for help if there's an emergency. Swimming solo may be fun, but when things go wrong, people realize what a serious mistake they've made.

If you absolutely, 100 percent have to swim without a buddy, please—whatever you do—don't swim where there are no other humans in sight. According to The Josh Project, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing drowning and water related injuries, even the strongest swimmers can encounter unforeseen emergencies, like sudden muscle cramps or getting tangled by underwater weeds. Without someone there to help, swimmers face a much higher risk of drowning.

Water provides a reflective surface that can distort depth perception. When swimmers dive head first, it's crucial they know how deep the water is beforehand, otherwise they're risking potentially fatal head and neck trauma, which accounts for 70 percent of shallow water injuries.

In the water, goggles prevent chemicals and bacteria from entering the eye, which can cause irritation or even infection. They also help swimmers see underwater, which can help prevent injuries caused by sharp rocks and coral. Outside the water, sunglasses are the easiest way to protect delicate eye tissue from damaging UVA and UVB rays, which can cause photokeratitis, a painful inflammation of the corneas.

Believe it or not, people tend to get more dehydrated while swimming than other sports. The reason? Playing in water can mask sweat, making moisture-loss less obvious. Plus, it's not uncommon for water to get into swimmers' mouths, which can alleviate the sensation of a dry mouth, without actually providing hydration. Dehydration can lead to a host of ailments, including muscle cramps, headache and in the most severe cases, even death.

Every state has its own boating laws but typically, it's not too difficult to obtain a boating license (and some states don't even require one). That said, ill-equipped or inexperienced boat operators, or ones who are driving erratically, are far more likely to make mistakes on the water, risking their lives, their passengers' lives and the lives of those they come into contact with. Before you ride in any watercraft, make sure the person operating the vehicle is trained and mature enough to handle the responsibility.

Wearing a life jacket may seem annoying, but it can save lives. Children and adults should always wear life jackets when they're on boats, canoes, kayaks and rafts, as well as when they're snorkeling or swimming in deep water. Even the most accomplished swimmers can suffer from fatigue or have an unexpected accident that leaves them incapacitated. And for the record, personal flotation devices aren't designed to save lives and shouldn't be relied upon for water safety.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, and the No. 2 cause of death for children up to 15 years old, even for children who have completed swimming lessons and are considered "good swimmers." Parents and guardians need to make sure they've always got their eyes on a child who's in or near the water, since it only takes seconds for a child to become submerged and less than two minutes for someone to drown.

Being a good swimmer doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a good snorkeler, scuba diver, surfer, paddle boarder or diver. Overestimating abilities in the water is a surefire way to get ourselves in trouble. Whether it's a change in the weather or choppy waves, having too much confidence can wind up being deadly. That's why it's important for anyone engaging in water sports to be safe and cognizant of their skill level, while also making sure to have someone nearby to help in an emergency.

Like people, pets are prone to drowning and need their humans to keep an eye on their safety. Whenever you're near the water with your furry friend, make sure you're watching them and protecting them from overexertion, sunburn and accidental drowning. For active, water-loving animals, it might be a good idea to invest in a pet life jacket to keep them extra safe while they swim.

It's no exaggeration that flat pool drains are one of the most deadly parts of a swimming pool or hot tub. The powerful suction force of the drain combined with the flat surface creates a near-impenetrable seal that is impossible for human hands to break. Numerous deaths caused by drains trapping swimmers led to a federal safety regulation requiring drains to have anti-entrapment devices covering them, however, many pools have yet to follow the regulation, leaving swimmers at risk.

There's a certain sense of freedom that comes from playing in the water. That freedom often leads people to roughhouse, which can potentially lead to a serious injury. From forcing people's heads under water to shoving, splashing and thrashing about, the risk for getting hurt in or around the water increases exponentially with this kind of behavior. While everyone wants to have a good time, safety should always be a top priority.

Our moms, teachers and lifeguards have all told us to walk, not run, but sometimes, it's hard to remember. Excited kids (and even some adults) might forget that wet surfaces are incredibly slippery—running on them puts us at risk for falling and getting seriously hurt. Head injuries and even drowning can result from running near a pool or on slippery, wet rocks near the beach. While walking may not seem as fun, it's definitely much safer.

Two inches of water is all it takes for a child to drown, yet parents often feel safe letting their little ones splash in the shallow end of a pool. Each year, small children drown in inflatable pools, shallow water, buckets and even toilets, making any open source of water a danger, especially for children under the age of 5. Another worry? Shallow water blackout, which is caused when a swimmer of any age holds their breath underwater and loses consciousness, which often leads to drowning.

Water tends to keep people cool during the hotter summer months, but many people confuse the cooling effects with sun protection. Just because you don't feel hot, it doesn't mean you're not burning. Likewise, when your body is submerged in the water, the harmful UVA and UVB rays are still able to penetrate your skin, leading to sunburn. Sunblock is always necessary whenever you're outdoors, whether or not you're in the water.

Swimming far out from shore may be a great way to get exercise and feel at one with nature, but it also puts swimmers at greater risk for being hurt or killed. From the rare risk of a shark attack (which happens to be one in 3.7 million) to injury, swimmer's fatigue, dangerous currents and even being too far for anyone to see you in distress, the farther you go, the less likely you are to get help when you need it.

The American Red Cross estimates 200 children in the U.S. die each year in swimming pool and hot tub accidents, making the need for barriers extremely important. Not only are children at risk for drowning in unsecured pools, pets and wild animals are also at risk. Experts recommend keeping a four-foot fence around any pool or hot tub and always keeping a cover over any bodies of water that aren't in use.

One of the worst methods for preventing water accidents or drownings is the "sink or swim" method. Assuming a child or pet will teach themselves water safety is similar to assuming someone can drive without knowing the rules of the road. Children should always be taught how to swim, how to behave safely around water and know clear rules about playing in the water to keep them safe as well as others.