When the temperatures begin to rise, people typically start looking for cost-effective activities that will keep them cool.

A number of those activities involve water in some form or fashion.

Pools are great places to cool off while also getting some exercise. If you’re a boat owner, you would be inclined to take the boat out on the river or to a lake. That activity could also include water skiing, tubing or knee boarding to get the most of your time on the water. Alternately, if you want a commercially available thrill, you can take a trip to a water park featuring adrenaline inducing water slides.

No matter your preference, water can be a fun way to cool off.

However, if you forget about safety it can be dangerous.

Young children should always be monitored when playing in and around water. Inexperienced swimmers of any age can be better protected through the use of a life jacket.

Being an experienced swimmer will help keep you safe and it’s a skill that can be obtained easily by taking a swimming class.

But experience can’t compensate for some dangerous conditions, such as while water skiing or riding in a boat through narrow waterways. Everyone in the boat, or being towed by a boat in any way, should be wearing a life jacket. No matter what you are doing outdoors during the summer, have some sunscreen on hand to protect from sunburns.

If you have a pool, be sure the proper barriers are installed to prevent children from accessing the pool while no one is watching. According to the American Red Cross, most drowning deaths involving pools occurred while the parents were nearby. If a child is missing, check all nearby water bodies first; the American Red Cross states that every second counts in incidents of drowning. But most of all, enjoy the warm weather. Before you know it, winter will be upon us again.