Have you ever been hiking in searing hot weather and then spotted a creek? Perhaps your first thought is to jump in since the cool glistening water is just so tempting. Well, before you do that, here are a few cautionary tips. 

1. Do not swallow any river water 

This is the most important thing to keep in mind. Keeping yourself from swallowing river water is by far the easiest and most effective way of preventing any water illnesses. Wild river water is primarily polluted by other people and runoff pollution. Do not let your summer be ruined by a case of Crypto or E. Coli, both are illnesses caught by swallowing river water. Instead of swallowing river water, take a sip from your water bottle! Hydration is equally as important. 

1. Enter the water feet first 

Instead of jumping straight in, walk slowly into the water first. What may appear to be shallow water could always be deeper. Also, there are plenty of hazards likely in the water. 

This applies for diving too. As tempting as it is to dive headfirst into the cool waters, jump in feet first. In fact, take careful consideration before diving in at all. According to the Canadian Red Cross, over 95% of diving injuries occur in water 1.5m deep or less, in an unsupervised setting with no warning signs. Only take a dive if you are an experienced diver and know that the water is at least 9 meters deep. 

1. Swim with a buddy 

Take a friend with you. While solitude in the creek sounds nice, opt to be cautious instead. In the unlikely event that you lose consciousness or get lost, having a buddy is going to help. 

Given that you are following these tips, you will be fine this summer. While swimming in a creek will never be perfectly safe, there is always going to be something unknown in the waters. The mysteriousness is a part of swimming in the wild.