Jim’s Water Safety Tips

Photo of Jim Lemke

In Columbus, water safety is a top priority, and we encourage you to take the basic precautions.

Here are some valuable water safety tips from our own Jim Lemke to ensure the safety of you and your children, whether you’re at a pool, river, lake, or open water. Please review, and let’s work together to make Columbus a water-safe community.

Here are some valuable water safety tips from our own Jim Lemke and the Red Cross to ensure the safety of you and your children, whether you’re at a pool, river, lake, or open water.

  • Know your limitations, including physical fitness and medical conditions.
  • Always swim with a buddy or in areas where a lifeguard is present. It’s more fun and safer.
  • Designate a Water Watcher, an adult or other individual who is not distracted and watching all swimmers.
  • Learn to swim, it’s a lifelong and lifesaving skill.
  • Children and inexperienced swimmers should wear properly fitted US Coast Guard approved lifejackets around water
  • Children, inexperienced swimmers and all boaters should wear properly fitted US Coast Guard approved lifejackets on boats or around open water even if you don’t intend to go in the water.
  • Check for environmental hazards like water depth, underwater hazards, and currents.
  • Never walk or drive through flooded areas.

Water Safety for Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Open Water

Understand that different bodies of water present unique risks, such as:

  • Fast moving river currents under the surface of the water
  • Underwater hazards like riprap, submerged trees and vegetation
  • Dangerously cold-water temperature
  • Ocean rip currents

Swim Lessons

Summer is a great time to sign up for swim lessons.

Donner Aquatics

Foundation for Youth

Columbus Swim Club: BullFrog Swim Lessons

Additional Web Resources

Learn more about water and pool safety.

Pool Safely

Safe Kids Worldwide

YMCA Water Safety

USDA Forest Services Water Safety

American Red Cross Logo

Safety Tips

The Red Cross is a great resource for swim safety, including water skills, what to do in an emergency, CPR and more.

For more comprehensive information on water safety and opportunities to become an American Red Cross Water Safety Ambassador, visit the American Red Cross website.

Information compiled from the American Red Cross webpage on water safety.