In the wake of the sad story of a 3-year-old boy drowning in a Potomac River tributary this weekend, we decided to ask emergency personnel what you should do if you accidentally end up in the Potomac or another local waterway.

Although Arlington County and the United States Park Police responded to this weekend's incident, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responds to most of the water emergencies in the Potomac, including many of those near Great Falls. Both that department and the United States Park Police stress that the most important way to avoid drowning is to have many levels of protection against an incident.

"We place a huge emphasis on layers of protection, including being aware of your surroundings, current weather conditions, and and wearing personal flotation devices," Montgomery County Fire and Rescue public information officer Beth Anne Nesselt says. Life jackets are actually required for anyone within 10 feet of the water, she adds.

If you do accidentally end up in the water, you should get onto your back and float down stream while keeping your head above water, Nesselt says. Swimmers should try to make their way to the shore while floating with the current and avoiding any visible rocks or other obstacles in their path. The Red Cross also recommends not jumping in after someone who has fallen in, but rather, tossing them a flotation device tied to a rope that can be used to pull them to shore.