The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality encourages Oklahomans to visit the state’s lakes, rivers, and streams but reminds you to follow some simple tips to help keep you and your family safe while swimming, boating, canoeing, or enjoying other water activities.
Please consider the following precautions to protect against water-borne sickness when recreating in natural waters:
- Choose swimming areas carefully
- Pay attention to signage about water conditions
- Stay away from any area that has stagnant water, floating debris, scum, an oil sheen, or dead fish
- Avoid swimming near storm drains
- Hold nose or wear nose plugs when jumping into the water
- Avoid swallowing water when swimming
- Wear ear plugs to prevent ear infections
- Wear swim goggles or masks to prevent eye infections
- Wash skin with soap and water after swimming
- Take children to the restroom frequently
- Use swim diapers on infants
- Rinse off prior to entering the water
- Avoid swimming if you are ill
