According to the CDC, teenagers this year are drowning in open water at an alarming rate.
In the past weeks there have been multiple teen drownings, from New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Mississippi.
Last month a 17-year-old died in Lake Michigan.
The boy was swimming in Harbor Chanel in Illinois with friends, no lifeguard or adults were present.
Lifeguard season has not yet begun.
Lake Michigan is the deadliest of all the Great Lakes.
Last year 36 people drowned in Lake Michigan, that number makes up half of all Great Lake deaths that year.
According to the CDC, 15-17-year-olds have more than twice the risk of fatal drowning in natural water compared to younger children.
Kids typically learn to swim in pools.
Open water settings have factors no pool can prepare you for with currents, waves and drop-offs.
Megan Ferraro, executive director of The Zac Foundation and the chair of the U.S National Water Safety Action Plan joined Local 4 Live to talk about safety.
You can watch the full interview in the video at the beginning of this article.