Learn swimming under guidance of experts and wear a lifejacket or rubber tube while learning swimming.
Don’t learn swimming in canals or in deep waters as velocity of water at the top of canal is slow but the undercurrent is much faster.
Avoid competitions such as holding your breath underwater or diving from heights and get out of water when you realise that you are getting tired.
Even those who know swimming should ask the local people about the waterbody before stepping in.
Do not step into waterbodies without knowing swimming or about the depth, water currents and the bottom of the waterbody.
Water stagnating in a place for a long time would make the surface slippery (like temple tanks or puddles in rock quarry). Slushy and rocky surfaces are dangerous as legs could be entangled there.
Swimming across dams, reservoirs and lakes could be more tiresome and one would not have a nearby place to rest and result in drowning.
When a friend is struggling for life, do not jump in to rescue by extending your hand or leg or swim to the person to rescue as it would cause the death of both.
To help a friend, ensure your personal safety by staying away from the water and extend a branch of tree, cloth or rope to the victim.
Parents should ensure that their children are under their watch.
Getting drunk before stepping into water could be deadly.
Waterbodies that accounted for deaths by drowning are the Bhavani, the Aliyar, Kovai Coutrallam, Nandakkarai and the Walayar.
