Summer water safety

Heather Ainsley reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Temperatures are steadily rising, and with hot, sunny days comes the beckoning call of cool, refreshing waters, the perfect relief from the exhausting heat waves. The time has come to enjoy your home's outdoor water features or venture to a friend or neighbor's house to enjoy theirs. But as trips to your favorite watering hole become a part of the weekly (or daily) routine, the risk of swim-related mishaps also increases. In fact, each year, nearly 4,000 American lives are claimed by swimming-related tragedies, and many of those happen right in the home. It is important to be aware of the risks associated with summer swimming and be prepar