Even though nearly two-thirds of families with small children plan on swimming in areas without lifeguards this summer, many people don’t know the right thing to do in water emergencies or how to keep their loved ones safe in the water, according to a new American Red Cross poll.

“People tend to spend more time in and around the water during the summer, so now is a great to review water safety precautions so you know what to do to stay safe,” said Tina Labellarte, Region CEO.

The survey findings show that people mistakenly believe some steps such as having a swimming buddy or flotation device will keep them safe. For example, while the Red Cross recommends that people always swim with a buddy in designated swimming areas supervised by lifeguards, buddies alone are not enough to keep swimmers safe.

Two thirds (67%) of those asked mistakenly believe that putting inflatable arm bands, or “water wings,” on children is enough to keep them safe when an adult is not nearby. These are not lifesaving devices, and children and weak/inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets while remaining under constant adult supervision.

The Red Cross poll found 63 percent of families with children plan on swimming in an area without a lifeguard this summer. However, nearly half of those polled had never taken swimming lessons, with African-Americans (32 percent) less likely to have received formal training.

Nearly half of Americans say they have had an experience where they were afraid they would drown, according to the findings. Hispanics reported a higher percentage (66%) of having such an experience over Whites (46%). Overall, four in 10 (41%) say they know someone who was in danger of drowning, which is an increase of 16 percentage points from a similar 2009 Red Cross survey.

Another concerning finding in the 2013 Red Cross survey was that most of those polled were unsure of the right steps to take when someone appears to be in distress in the water: More than nine in 10 (93%) people were unable to identify the correct order of actions to take to help a swimmer who may be in danger of drowning.

“The correct steps to take when you see a swimmer who needs help is to shout for help, reach or throw the person a rescue or flotation device and tell them to grab it; then call 9-1-1 if needed,” Labellarte said. “Sometimes people think that if a person isn’t actually calling out for help that they must not need help. However, it’s possible the person in trouble cannot call out because they are using all their energy to just try to stay above the water.”

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Other signs of a swimmer in trouble include:

• Treading water and waving an arm
• Doggie paddling with no forward progress
• Hanging onto a safety line
• Floating on their back and waving their arms
• Arms extended side or front, pressing down for support, but making no forward progress
• Positioned vertically in the water, but not kicking legs
• Underwater for more than 30 seconds
• Floating at surface, face-down, for more than 30 seconds

Red Cross swimming lessons help people develop skills and water safety behaviors that help people be more comfortable and safe when they are in, on and around the water. The Red Cross encourages all household members to enroll in age-appropriate water orientation and Learn-to-Swim programs. To find classes for your family, contact your local aquatic facility and ask for American Red Cross swimming programs.

An infographic highlighting survey results has been developed. People can find additional water safety information at redcross.org/watersafetytips.

Survey details: Telephone survey of 1,011 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on April 11-14, 2013 conducted in ORC International’s CARAVAN® survey using a landline-cell dual-frame sampling design.  Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For comparison, this report includes findings from a 2009 Water Safety Poll–Telephone survey of  1,002 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on March 20-23, 2009 conducted by ORC International’s CARAVAN®. Margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level

A rock song says music can soothe the soul but hospitals are finding it can help premature infants and other sick babies, too.

Music therapy played live is increasingly being used in newborn intensive care units around the country.

Research suggests it may slow stressed infants’ heartbeats, calm their breathing, and improve sucking and sleeping. Some studies suggest it might even help them go home sooner. It can also help them bond with parents even before the tiny babies are able to be held.

Elizabeth Klinger is a music therapist at Chicago’s Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. She softly sings and plays guitar, and says that the live performance does much more than entertain babies.

A couple made the job easy for an undercover North Platte Police Officer, when they offered him weed.

The officer was driving through the Patriot Mobile Park at 2300 E. Philip on Wednesday when he was approached by a male subject who asked the officer if he wanted to buy some marijuana.

Public Information Officer Rodney Brown said in a news release that the officer then drove the male to an unspecified house on West 9th Street.  The officer was then told to wait near the 500 block of Rodeo Road.

A short time later, the male returned to the vehicle with Elizabeth A. Flores, 34, of Grand Island, and a bag of marijuana.

As the officer attempted to take both subjects into custody, they fled on foot.  Police were able to apprehend Flores, who was jailed and charged with being an Accessory to a Felony and Obstruction a Police Officer.

Police say the investigation into the male subject is ongoing, but did not provide any additional information on his identity.