ST. ANTHONY & REXBURG - Each year, approximately 6-THOUSAND people drown in the United States according to the U-S Army Corps of Engineering on water safety.

That number on the minds of many city leaders across Eastern Idaho.

St. Anthony held a public meeting Wednesday night considering closing the sand bar. Family of drowning victim Lance Jensen spoke at the meeting, which went until 11pm. That resolution has been tabled, but the diving board has been closed and will likely be removed. Search and Rescue teams also dove in waters underneath the board to locate any possible indications of danger. A committee will soon be formed to monitor the sand bar to give notice to the public on a day to day basis about the safety of swimming, especially when the water is high.

At the Brigham Young University Idaho Swimming pool, lifeguards are being trained to react to drowning situations.

"To do CPR and work with oxygen, we feel better prepared. It makes me feel useful in a situation," said David Borchardt, a lifeguard in training.

Your safety tips this week are:
1. Don't Panic. Panic induces further injuries, and will incapacitate you.
"Sometimes it doesn't take much to bring on panic, maybe they go too deep in the water," said Bert Bowen, a lifeguard trainer and pool supervisor at BYU-I.

2. Don't be a daredevil.
"Teenagers will always be daredevils," said Bowen.

3. And lastly, the only thing that hasn't changed in 45 years of Bowen's experience in water safety, "You can't breathe underwater," laughed Bowen.

When someone dives into the shallow end of the pool and hits their head, they might have a spinal injury. That's they deploy a backboard.

"I've learned a lot, it's definitely a team effort, its not just the one lifeguard. One would be calling 9-11, another would be saving and another assisting in the save," said Michael Fraser, a lifeguard in training.

Drownings still happen. Whether you're at the sand bar, or at a swimming pool, remember water safety.

The Army Corps also reports drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for people 15 to 44-years of age.

Next Thursday, I will continue my series on water safety at Rigby Lake.