The American Red Cross is urging everyone in a national campaign to get some swimming lessons this summer, saying drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death and injury in the U-S. Kara Kelly with the Great Iowa Chapter of the Red Cross says a study the organization conducted led them to focus on water skills. “Really some shocking information came out on really how much knowledge folks have on water safety,” Kelly explains. “About 50-percent of Americans either can’t swim or don’t have all of the basic swimming skills.”

Kelly says you are putting yourself in danger if you can’t do some of the basics. “Knowing how to float, being comfortable jumping into the water with the water being over your head, treading water for a minute, and then being able to find or swim to an exit,” Kelly says.

If you are in a pool, you should also know how to get out of the water without the use of a ladder. The survey found that nearly half of Americans (46 percent) report that they have had an experience in the water where they were afraid they might drown. Kelly says many parents take their kids to swimming lessons, but don’t know the basics themselves.

Kelly encourages everyone — regardless of their age — to get some swimming lessons. She recommends you swim where trained life guards are on duty. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 43 people died in Iowa from drowning in 2012.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak report a disturbance Monday night lead to the arrest of a local man on drug and other charges. Officers investigating an incident at around 10:30-p.m. Monday arrested 36-year old Timothy Orville Welch, of Red Oak. Welch was charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Pills, a Drug Tax Stamp violation, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — The Story County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating some equipment failure with its 911 service. Authorities say the office experienced the failure Thursday with some new equipment that handles 911 calls for portions of the county. They say it was quickly remedied, and no 911 calls were missed or dropped.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — A 6-year-old girl has been critically injured in an all-terrain vehicle crash near Montezuma. The Iowa State Patrol says a man was driving the four-wheel ATV on a gravel road Monday morning when it rolled over into a ditch. The vehicle pinned his daughter. The man’s 3-year-old son was also in the ATV at the time of the crash. It’s unclear if the man or boy were injured.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Two Waterloo men face charges in connection to a brief police chase. The Waterloo Police Department says officers attempted a traffic stop Saturday night that began the short pursuit. Officers chased the driver, 30-year-old Dennis Brown Jr., and a passenger, 28-year-old Antonio Evans. They eventually captured both men.

VENTURA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say no foul play is suspected in the death of a Mason City man found in Clear Lake. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office says it responded around 3 a.m. Saturday to a missing person report near Farmers Beach in rural Ventura. Authorities found the body of 26-year-old David Jon Caspers in Clear Lake. He had previously been fishing with friends.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Corning man on Monday for OWI after responding to a call from Lake Icaria.

Sheriff’s officials received a call at 10:00am Monday (5/26) stating that a red Dodge pickup with a red topper was driving and swerving on the pavement around the Lake Icaria beach and the driver had an open container.  A traffic stop was later conducted on Juniper Avenue and the driver 55-year-old Larry Dean Bickford was arrested for OWI first offense.  Bickford was taken into custody and held on $1,000 bond.