When the mercury soars, people just want to cool off, but frolicking in pools, lakes and rivers is not without dangers.

Every summer, injury and deaths from drowning soar.

Christine Hill, a spokeswoman for Rural/Metro Ambulance in Atlanta, said people have to be responsible when swimming.

"Water injuries cause almost 1,000 child deaths each year," she said.

Injuries can happen in and outside the pool from slips and falls, diving board accidents and swimming while intoxicated.

Rural/Metro Ambulance offers these tips to keep swimming fun:

-- Get help immediately or call 911 if you suspect someone is in danger of drowning.

-- Ensure that children are always supervised by a competent adult.

-- Swim only in supervised areas and never swim alone. Even strong swimmers can have medical emergencies in the water.

Watch for the "dangerous too's"- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun and too much strenuous activity.

-- Keep basic lifesaving equipment — reaching pole, first aid kit, flotation device and immobilization board — by pools and swimming areas, and know how to use them,.

-- For child safety, enclose pool areas with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars.