Welcome to the official start of summer! Well, Virginia’s humidity makes us feel like it’s been summer for a while already, and chances are you’ve already taken the first dip into the pool. Virginia has a wonderful array of rivers to enjoy as well, plus the Atlantic Ocean. But of course, with so much proximity to water, there are some inherent risks.

Children aren’t the only ones susceptible to the danger of drowning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 10 people a day die from unintentional drowning, and only two of them are children under the age of 14. Anyone can become fatigued while swimming, dehydrated and disoriented, or worse.

Remember that drowning doesn’t look like it does in the movies. Someone who’s drowning won’t scream for help or flail about, since the body kicks into survival mode to conserve oxygen.

Instead, look out for someone who’s completely upright, but with his/her head low and mouth at or below water level. Look at the person’s eyes—glassy, unfocused, or closed eyes are signs of serious trouble. Ask the person a direct question (“Are you okay?”). If he doesn’t answer, the clock is ticking to get him out of the water.

If your friend or family member has close call, be on the alert for “dry drowning” after the fact. A close call—or even a surprised inhalation of water—can mean trouble later, especially for children. Water can get into the lungs and slowly cause swelling, which requires hospital attention and can come with serious complications. Watch for lethargy, fever, unusual mood shifts, shortness of breath, or persistent coughing that develops within an hour to 24 hours of the original event.

Be aware and be safe. We wish you the best summer ever!