Event highlights importance of swim lessons
Last week, we reported that Cranberry Township Waterpark partnered with the Goldfish Swim School to participate in the 14th annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.
The 30-minute lesson was free and open to the public, with parents packing the poolside to watch their children learn the importance of water safety.
“It’s incredibly important — drowning prevention is what we’re here for,” said Megan Holenick, director of operations for the school. “We teach water safety to swimmers of all ages. Drowning is scary, and it’s something that is preventable.”
Swim lessons are vital. Many of us remember having them as children, whether through a course or in our own backyards, and there is no way of knowing how often those foundational tactics have saved our lives over the years.
We recently lauded a water rescue training hosted by Butler County Water Rescue Team 300. The swim school’s lessons are another extension of doing everything we can to keep people safe in water. If as many children as possible receive lessons early on, fewer rescues will be necessary later.
“You get one child to learn how to save themselves, that’s one child we don’t have to save,” said David Hutner, interim director for Cranberry Township parks and recreation.
Parents won’t regret the added peace of mind. It’s impossible to watch a child every single second of their lives.
“Being able to take them to the pool or going swimming and they’re comfortable, I’m comfortable … as a parent, it makes you much more comfortable taking your kids to the pool,” said Lynsi Show of Mars.
We’re happy to see that many took advantage of the lesson. Maybe it will inspire others to be proactive moving forward.
— CM
