Women with safety jacket with kayak

Summer Lake Safety Tips: Stay Safe While You Splash

Summer in Texas means sunshine, travel, and long weekends on the lake. Whether you’re swimming, tubing, paddleboarding, or boating, open water brings joy and risk in equal measure. Understanding lake safety is critical, especially for families and vacationers unfamiliar with the local landscape.

If you’re visiting or hosting near Lake Travis or other popular Leander-area lakes, these tips will help you and your guests stay safe while making the most of your trip.

Respect the Water: Know the Environment First

Lakes often appear calm on the surface, but hazards below can include sharp rocks, hidden drop-offs, and tangled vegetation. That’s why all swimmers even confident ones should treat unfamiliar waters with caution.

Enter the water feet first until you know the depth
Do not dive into murky or shallow areas
Never swim alone, even if you’re experienced
Stay in designated swim areas whenever possible

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, even children who can swim should wear life jackets in lakes, as currents and sudden depth changes can catch swimmers off guard.

Wear Your Life Jacket: A Must for All Ages

One of the most important water safety rules is simple always wear a life jacket when boating, tubing, or swimming in open water. The Red Cross emphasizes that many lake drowning incidents involve strong swimmers who weren’t wearing floatation devices.

Key guidelines:

Children should always wear a properly fitted life jacket
Adults should set the example by wearing one too
Inflatable toys or floaties are not substitutes for life vests
Make sure jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved

Lake safety also includes avoiding alcohol before swimming or operating boats, as reaction times and judgment can be impaired even with small amounts.

Tips for Hosts: Make Water Safety a Priority for Guests

If you own a vacation rental near a lake, it’s important to support guest safety. Include a laminated safety checklist, offer loaner life jackets, and share links to local emergency contacts and rules.

These simple steps show care and protect your guests:

Provide printed guidelines like “Respect the Water” and “Lake Safety Essentials”
Keep basic first-aid kits and water safety gear in visible locations
Remind guests to monitor kids and avoid unsupervised swimming