Water Safety

Boating and Swimming Safety Tips

Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone, whether at a public pool, lifeguarded beach or open body of water
Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards
Always be within an arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions (like looking at your phone)
Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for children and inexperienced swimmers, but do not rely on life jackets alone
If someone is missing, check the water first; many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of at least one parent
Be cautious around natural bodies of water such as ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes; currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into the water dangerous
If boating, wear a life jacket; most boating fatalities occur from drowning
Be aware of warning flags at beaches
Avoid drinking alcohol while in or on the water
Check the weather before heading out on the water. Storms can spring up quickly in summer months, so be prepared.

Alligators longer than four feet that are a threat to people, pets or livestock

They can seriously injure or kill people and animals

Do not allow children to play by themselves around bodies of water
Do not swim at night, at dawn or in the evening when alligators most actively feed
Do not feed alligators
Do not kill, poke or try to move alligators
Do not remove alligators from the wild and make them pets
Call any Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries office if you have problems with an aggressive or nuisance alligator

Call any Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries office if you have problems with an aggressive or nuisance alligator

Naegleria fowleri, called the “brain-eating ameba,” is an ameba naturally found in freshwater lakes, rivers and hot springs.

The infection destroys brain tissue, causing brain swelling and death

When you are bathing, showering or swimming, do not allow water to go up your nose
Do not jump into or put your head under water
Only use sterile water for sinus rinses
Empty, scrub and dry plastic pools after each use
Run bath and shower faucets and hoses to flush out pipes