Before you plunge into a swimming pool or lake this summer, think first.

Every year in the United States, nearly 1,000 people suffer from spinal cord injuries as a result of recreational diving, according to Think First, a national neurological injury prevention program. Nearly 90 percent of these injuries result in quadriplegia, meaning little or no movement or feeling below the neck.

Yet most diving accidents can be prevented, according to experts at Atlanta-based Shepherd Center, a hospital that specializes in treating spinal cord and brain injuries and other neuromuscular disorders.

“People often dive headfirst when going into the water for the first time,” says David Apple, M.D., medical director of Shepherd Center. “But if the water is too shallow, your head can hit the bottom of the pool or lake with such force that it breaks the neck and damages the spinal cord. Worse yet, if the swimmer is unable to move or call for help, he can drown.”

Dr. Apple recommends swimmers jump in the water with their feet first for the first time. This allows you to determine the depth of the water and decide whether it is too shallow to dive. He also offers the following safety tips to prevent diving injuries this summer:

Always test the water's depth before diving. Water should be at least nine feet deep for diving.

Check the water for obstacles on the surface or underwater debris.

Never dive in unfamiliar areas. Remember, lake and river bottom depths can change from year to year. Three out of four diving accidents occur in such natural bodies of water.

Don't dive off the side of a pool, the side of a diving board, a slide or a fence.

Never dive into an above-ground pool.

Avoid the use of alcohol or drugs around water. Diving requires precise coordination and distance judgment — skills that can be impaired by alcohol and drugs.

When diving, make your dives simple, keeping your head up and your arms extended over your head.

Never push or throw anyone into the water.

Don't swim alone. Use the buddy system.

Take a water safety and CPR course so you can take action if there ever is an emergency.

If a diving or swimming accident occurs and the diver shows no sign of movement, Dr. Apple says gently take the victim out of the water face up. Do not attempt a rescue beyond your swimming capabilities. once the victim is on level ground, immediately call 911 and begin CPR if needed.

“Just by taking a few minutes to judge your actions around water, you can prevent a day at the pool from resulting in a life-altering spinal cord injury,” said Dr. Apple.

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