Additional Tips for Open Water 1. Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Thunderstorms and strong winds are dangerous to swimmers and boaters. Restrict activities to designated swimming areas, usually marked by buoys. Remember that open water usually has limited visibility, and conditions can sometimes change from hour to hour.
Currents are often unpredictable, moving rapidly and quickly changing direction.
A strong water current can carry even expert swimmers far from shore. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Once you are out of the current, swim toward the shore. But they can also be dangerous for people of all ages. In 1996, nearly 4,000 people drowned in the United States, including almost 1,000 children younger than 15 years of age.