As summer sets in and the temperatures rise more and more people are spending time outside at the beach or in a swimming pool. With summer here, we must take the time to learn and follow swimming safety tips to make these outings more safe and enjoyable.

Did you know that according to the US Lifesaving Association, drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death for persons age 5 to 44? For children ages 1 and 2, drowning is the leading cause of injury death.

The most important safety tip while swimming is to have constant supervision. Many of the drowning deaths that occur each year are due to the lack of proper supervision. If you swim at a public beach or public pool, a trained rescuer or lifeguard should be on duty. If there is no lifeguard, make sure there is proper adult supervision, especially for children under 12, poor swimmers and non-swimmers. No one should ever swim alone. Teach your children always to swim with a buddy.

Another cause of swimming injuries and deaths each year is caused by diving accidents. Swimmers should learn how to dive properly from a qualified instructor and should be aware of "No Diving" signs. Swimmers should never dive into an aboveground pool or unknown water and should always check the depth of in-ground pools to ensure safe head-first entry. When diving, always enter the water with your arms extended firmly overhead and keep your hands together to protect your head. Never dive in less than nine feet of water, and always have at least 25-feet of clearance in front of you before you dive. All too often, diving into shallow water has resulted in cervical spine injuries that cause permanent paralysis.

Whether at the beach or in the backyard, there are rules to follow to make swimming as safe and injury-free as possible:

* Learn CPR. Babysitters and other caregivers, such as grandparents and older siblings, should also know CPR.

* Keep rescue equipment by the pool. Be sure a telephone is poolside along with emergency numbers posted nearby.

* Have a first-aid kit with resuscitation equipment at poolside.

* Never jump or dive into the shallow area of the pool.

* Don't allow children to "play" as though they are drowning - a false alarm might delay a rescue in the event of a real emergency.

* Never drink alcohol before or during swimming, while operating a boat or while water-skiing.

* Learn to swim. Enroll yourself and your children age 4 and older in swimming classes.

* Air-filled swimming aids (such as water wings) should not be used 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.

* Install a four-sided, isolation pool fence with self-closing and self-latching gates around the pool.

* Remove toys from the pool immediately after use. Floaters, balls and other toys may tempt children to lean into the pool and they may fall in.

If you see someone drowning, the Red Cross offers the following advice:

* Have someone call 911 immediately.

* If the victim is within throwing distance, throw a floatable object to the person. This includes a life jacket, kick board or even an empty gallon jug.

* If the victim is within reaching distance, assist the person by extending something long, such as a rope, pole, ring bowie or tree limb.

I encourage everyone to read and know how to prevent these horrible tragedies from happening. By following these simple tips we can help ensure the safety of our families, relatives and friends as we enjoy the pools and waterways.

More information can be obtained by visiting www.cdc.gov.