Our communities are lucky to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful waterways. In our backyard we have the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Indian River Inlet, Assawoman Bay, Pocomoke River, St. Martin River and numerous creeks, canals, and estuaries. We’re also amazed by some of the fabulous man-made swim facilities in our communities.
Although we may not all be Olympic swimmers, survival swimming skills can be taught as early as 6 months old! BeWaterSafe.org recommends four important tips when it comes to keeping your children safe in the water:
- Get in the water with your children! This is the safest and most fun water play!
- If you use a flotation device, be sure to use U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets – and test them prior to wearing.
- Keep your cell phone away from water when supervising your children. It is a distraction to your attention and phones don’t work well when wet.
- Swim lessons for all ages are important. Teach the differences between pools and open water swimming and how to stay safe.
A shout out to the Worcester County Maryland school system for sending all 9-10 year old children to a swim safety course hosted by the Ocean Pines Aquatics Department. Thank you, Worcester County and Ocean Pines, for helping to keep our kids safe.
