DENVER — As temperatures rise, many of us will be flocking to pools and lakes to cool off. But the American Red Cross is reminding families to be safe while around water.

Here’s a list of 12 water safety tips courtesy of the American Red Cross.

1. No one should swim alone, but this is especially so with kids. Never leave children alone near water, even for a moment.
2. An adult, preferably one who knows how to perform CPR, should be nearby at all times.
3. While everyone knows you must have a fence around a pool, it would be wise to install an alarm on the exit door.
4. Keep a life preserver, long pole, and cordless phone near the pool, or have them with you at the beach or lake.
5. Inflatable floaties are not a substitute for approved life vests! And make sure vests fit properly.
6. Enroll children in swimming lessons at an early age, but remember, lessons do not make you drown proof at any age. Take nothing for granted.
7. Never swim in canals or any fast moving water.
8. Ocean swimming should only be allowed when there is a lifeguard present.
9. Do not allow anyone, especially kids, to stand with their back to a wave. A sudden undertow can knock them over and disorient them.
10. At lakes and ponds, wear aqua socks or water shoes; you never know where there may be jagged rocks or broken glass.
11. Alcohol and water may be fine in a cocktail lounge, but they don’t mix at the pool, lake, or beach.
12. Establish rules for your own family. Set limits based on each individual’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and discourage daredevil games like breath-holding contests.Karen Turner of Meriden, CT. who has three children ranging in age from six to eleven said, “We have a whiteboard by the pool that we update each year as the kids get older and more experienced. It tells them just how far in they can go, and what their limits are. They adhere to that, or they don’t swim that day.”