STAY SAFE ON THE WATER THIS SUMMER

Memorial Day marks the start of summer for many in northern California, and with the start of summer comes more time on the state’s lakes, rivers, and ocean beaches. While swimming and boating are often fun activities, becoming careless about water safety can result in serious injuries. To help you protect those you love this summer, experienced San Jose injury attorneys recommend the following tips:

• Know the water. Swimming in designated areas only is a must, but before you go in, take a moment to prep yourself by checking the water temperature and depth, the status of any obstacles or debris on the bottom, and the strength of any currents or rip tides. When in doubt, do not enter a body of water.
• Wear the right gear. Life jackets can save lives when swimming or boating, even for strong swimmers. Always wear a life jacket that fits your body and is rated for your weight. Choosing the proper swimsuit, wet suit, and other clothing for swimming or boating can also help protect you from hypothermia or other dangers.
• Always take a friend. Swimming or boating alone can be dangerous for many reasons. Always take a friend along. Children should always be supervised by an attentive adult when they are in or near the water.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol consumption when swimming or boating greatly increases your chances not only of injuring yourself, but also of causing harm to others. Reserve alcoholic beverages for when you are safely on land and are not supervising children or other swimmers or boaters.

Swimming pool accidents or boating crashes can have serious consequences, especially for children. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of another person’s negligence, contact the San Jose injury lawyers at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys at (800) 900-0863 for a free and confidential case evaluation.