Maybe rivers and lakes are more your thing than beachgoers or mountain climbers.

But don’t let lake life destroy your safety habits or good judgment.

In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard counted over 3,800 recreational boating accidents, resulting in 564 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that drowning deaths are increasing for the first time in decades, with over 4,500 people drowning each year from 2020 to 2022.

Jon Gehlbach, MD, is medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois. He says there are many unknown factors in natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers that make them more dangerous than swimming pools.

“They are usually darker, making it harder to see what is going on under the water surface. There could be obstacles in them,” says Dr. Gehlbach. “Currents also play a role. Children can be good swimmers in the pool, but currents make it much more difficult to swim safely.”

Another harmful factor to consider is the spread of waterborne pathogens and bacteria such as E. coli.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) advises against transporting water, animals, fish or plants from one body of water to another.

Also, wash yourself, your boats and your equipment with hot water as soon as possible after getting out of the water.