(KNSI) – Summer in Minnesota would only be complete with the occasional trip to the pool and lake, but families need to stay safe near the water’s edge.
St. Cloud Family YMCA Aquatics Director Kaitlin Pohland told KNSI News the most important thing to remember is to keep your wits around the water. “We need to remember to really be alert when we’re out of the water. We don’t want to be distracted. We want to make sure that we’re really paying attention to everyone around us, your kiddos, yourself, and that we’re making smart decisions by the water.”
She says it’s easy to enjoy the time in the sun by pulling out a phone or book, but those things take your eye off little ones. All children should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when playing near water.
Pohland says supervision and a life vest are important, but kids also need basic water safety skills. “That is key. How to climb out of the water. How to do your float. How to just relax in the water and have that experience.”
The St. Cloud Y is teamed up with District 742 to teach second graders about basic water safety. More than 700 students got the potentially life-saving instruction this year.
For swim lessons or more information on swimming safety, click here.
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