It's lovely living so close to the water. But with great beaches comes great responsibility, and emergency officials have issued some water safety tips that will help everyone stay safe for the rest of the season.

There has been one drowning so far this year and a number of close calls.

While he didn't have the exact figure, Wareham Harbormaster Garry Buckminster says the number of people who have been in distress or nearly drowned is higher than usual.

"Incidents where a person has actually gone to the hospital is four," Buckminster said.

Wareham Fire Chief Robert McDuffy says that people who report the incidents can do a few things to help the officials in the event of an emergency.

"Maintain some kind of landmark so you can help the first-responders if the person goes under water," said McDuffy. "That helps us try to narrow down the area" where officials need to search.

Another thing to remember is to let people know when and where you'll be swimming. That way if you don't come home, they'll know where to look or where to send the emergency crews. Officials also advise people to never swim alone.

Buckminster says it's also important to know the area in which you're swimming, noting that the geographical features of certain areas can catch swimmers off guard. At Shell Point, for example, there is a steep 1- to 12-foot drop-off.

Add the strong current that runs through the area to the equation, and an uninitiated swimmer could get into trouble.

"People should know the area they're swimming in, not just go into random areas," said Buckminster, adding: "Swim with the shore, don't swim away from the shore."

One thing the fire department wants to educate people on is rip currents, which are channeled currents of water that flow away from shore. When a wave breaks near the shoreline, water piles up between the beach and the breaking waves. In order to get back out to sea, the stuck water will form a rip current.

The fire department advises people to call 911 immediately if somebody is in distress, and to use a flotation device while kayaking, boating, paddle-boarding, or using any type of water craft. According to the fire department, almost 70% of drownings involving canoes or kayaks could have been prevented with the help of a life preserver.

According to the fire department, a rip current is like "a treadmill without an off button." Step to the side to escape it. It's important to stay calm and not fight the current. Once out of the current, swim back to shore at an angle away from the current.

"It's been a long stretch of warm weather its inviting for those who want to cool off, but it does present its dangers,"  said McDuffy, adding: "This year has been really active."

Another way to stay safe is to save the alcoholic beverages for when you're back on shore.

"Alcohol is a formula for disaster when swimming," McDuffy noted.

McDuffy says that being on alert for incidents is just par for the course when working in a seaside community.

"With 54 miles of coastline," he says, "we have to be ready."