The long Fourth of July holiday weekend is here, and the continued hot, dry weather makes cooling off in a King County river, lake or Puget Sound more enticing than ever.

Several recent drownings in the region emphasize the importance of being safe around open water, including swimming at a lifeguarded beach and wearing a lifejacket.

Experts from the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Rescue and Dive Unit, and Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Violence and Injury Prevention team are available Thursday for interviews about water safety:

Thursday, July 2 – 11 a.m. to noon

Mount Baker Beach Park – near the lifeguard tower

1992 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle

For details about river safety, visit www.kingcounty.gov/riversafety. For more information on water safety and drowning prevention, visit the King County Water Safety website, www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/water.