School is out, and the summer fun has officially begun. Across the country, Americans are cooling off in swimming pools and at water parks, as they enjoy the long days and warm summer nights.

Swimming in backyard pools, at apartment complexes, hotels and water parks is a great way to get some exercise while having fun in the sun, but it's critically important to put safety first. In the summer, emergency departments see an uptick in nonfatal and fatal accidental drownings, many of which involve young swimmers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every child under 15 that dies in a swimming pool, another 10 receive medical treatment in an emergency room. A nonfatal drowning is nothing to take lightly, it can result in brain damage, and long-term disabilities.

Who is at the highest risk of drowning? According to the CDC, the highest rates of fatal drownings occur among young children between the ages of 1 and 4, and males are at the highest risk among all age groups.

Be Safe Around Water

As individuals and families splash in swimming pools, lakes, rivers and oceans this summer, it's important that they take precautions to be safe around water. To protect your family and yourself, follow these safety measures around water:

• Get swim lessons for children
• Always supervise children in water
• Abstain from alcohol while supervising a child in water
• Utilize life jackets, especially on boats
• Install four-sided fencing around pools
• Never allow children to supervise small children in pools
• Learn CPR in case someone drowns

While lifeguards are important, parents and guardians cannot rely on them to watch their children. Children still die in pools where one or more lifeguards were on duty. Often, it's someone other than the lifeguard who first notices that someone has drowned.

If someone you love has been in a nonfatal or fatal drowning accident, contact a personal injury attorney to file a claim for compensation.