Red Cross: Half Of Americans Can't Swim Well

(Undated) -- Just over half of Americans who claim they can swim are able to perform basic water safety skills. The American Red Cross says that's in spite of the fact that 80 percent of people who responded to a new poll have water activities in their summer plans. Nearly a third said they'll be swimming in a place without a lifeguard present. More than half said they'd swim out to help a person who was in trouble in the water. Experts say that puts the person trying to make a rescue in danger, and they recommend throwing something that floats into the water instead.