A dip in the water is refreshing relief on a hot summer day, but taking a plunge could sink your cell phone.

While nothing can ensure your cell phone will work if it gets wet, U.S. Cellular phone doctors offer these tips to improve the chances that your phone will survive a dive:

Bye, Bye Battery – If your phone doesn’t turn off when it gets wet, power down immediately. Once the power is off, remove the battery.  

Bare and Air – Grab a towel to remove as much excess water from the phone as you can. You should remove any skins, covers or faceplates. If you have a flip phone you should open it up so air can reach the keypad.

What’s Up, Doc? – U.S. Cellular phone doctors might be able to help. You should bring a wet phone to a service technician as soon as possible.

Let It Be – This is the hard part. You should leave a wet phone powered off for a day or two to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out.

Verdict Is In – Once you replace the battery, push the ON button. If the phone turns on, you can breathe a sigh of relief, though it may only be temporary. Moisture damage signs may take time and symptoms might appear several weeks or months later. Check your keypad as keys that stick or don’t work all the time are signs of permanent damage.

Don’t Sweat It – Do not leave a phone inside your car on a hot summer day. “As you return to your car and blast on the air conditioner, the change in temperature could create condensation within your phone,” said Jack Brundige,

U.S. Cellular’s director of sales for Tennessee. “That kind of moisture or heavy sweating can hamper the computer inside a phone.”

Keep Your Contacts – If a wet phone can’t be revived, your old phone’s address book or contacts can be loaded onto your new phone if you have U.S. Cellular’s My Contacts Backup, a free service offered to U.S. Cellular easyedge customers.

Peace of Mind – U.S. Cellular customers can purchase insurance for less than $6 a month, which covers water damage and other accidents. Most policies require you to report phone damage within 90 days of an incident.

U.S. Cellular is the nation’s sixth-largest wireless service carrier, providing wireless service to 6.2 million customers in 26 states. The Chicago-based company employs 8,700 associates and operates on a customer satisfaction strategy, meeting customer needs by providing a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, superior customer support and a high-quality national network.