YMCA talk about Water Safety practices for the summer

Water Safety Month

MARYLAND – Summertime is here and that means people are gearing up to play in the pools.

YMCA’s Aquatic Director ​Jennifer Seip spoke to WMDT in honor of Water Safety Month. She tells us that drugs and alcohol are never a good mix with swimming. Children are more at risk for drowning, and those who are younger than 14 and can’t swim are even more at risk and should be properly supervised.

She says that not knowing how to swim is dangerous and that swimming is a life skill that everyone should have, especially being around all the bodies of water found here in the Delmarva area. “Make sure you swim near the lifeguard, or that the lifeguard is there, but at the same time, don’t just trust the lifeguard to be the one to save… Put down the phone, if you have one and you’re a parent. You have to keep your eyes on your kids.”

The YMCA says teenagers who are responsible and can swim, can supervise, but should also ensure they are fully paying attention and not on their phones. Seip says if you are ever in a situation where you find yourself drowning, don’t panic, call for help, and try to get to the nearest wall or something to hold on to.