As the weather warms up this summer, Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency officials also want you to raise your awareness about safety around area waterways.
Community Safety Officer Whitney Burk said they are aware that a lot more people will be looking for somewhere to beat the heat.
"We just want to remind people to always supervise people who are swimming -- especially children," said Burk. "And know your limit -- make sure you are swimming in safe water."
Burk said it is always good to have someone who is around who is also trained in first-aid and CPR.
She said the most dangerous thing fire and rescue teams see consistently is people not wearing life jackets when they are out on the water.
"If you are a weak swimmer, we always suggest you wear a life jacket," said Burk. "And everyone should be wearing a life jacket when they go out on our lakes and rivers."
Burk added that your preparation for heading out on the water should also include taking a look at the forecast.
"It's important to check the weather," said Burk. "Look at [Tuesday]... if you were in Chatham or any of the surrounding areas, we went from sunshine to wind and rain within minutes."
When it comes to choosing a place to cool off, Burk said local CK fire officials don't recommend swimming in the Thames River.
That warning follows a tragic incident in Chatham where a 15-year-old girl had to be rescued from the Thames River and a 17-year-old girl died after they both jumped off of the Third Street Bridge and into the water very early Monday morning.
"Of course we can't speculate [as to what happened] but incidents are unfortunately going to happen," said Burk. "But they happen less if you take safety precautions first."
Burk said a great way to prepare your kids for being safe around water is to get them into swimming lessons early and to make sure they always swim with a buddy or at least close supervision.
She also offered some tips in case you do see someone in distress in the water, adding that knowing the signs of drowning is important.
"It often can look almost silent... the head is low, people are gasping, there's a little bit of arms flailing around," said Burk, noting that you should also make sure you are in a safe place if you are going to try to help someone else. "Someone who is drowning is going to be very panicked and they can take you under -- that's why whenever you see a lifeguard or a fire rescue or anyone else rescuing on water, they always have some type of flotation device to use with themselves."
Burk said she would never recommend you getting into the water on your own to try to rescue someone without a flotation device or something else for the person to grab onto.