(HealthDay News) -- Swimming is a great form of exercise, but you and your loved ones need to be careful around water.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these water safety suggestions:

• Children should always be supervised near any form of water, including pools, lakes, streams and even bathtubs.
• A pool should always be surrounded by a fence, including a gate that can be locked.
• Always wear a life preserver if you're boating on a stream, lake, river or the ocean, even if you know how to swim.
• Don't drink alcohol while swimming or boating.
• Never swim alone.
• Never dive unless the water is deep enough to dive safely.