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June 19, 2012

Child's drowning spurs free Water Safety Days

By Mary Spicer MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

MEADVILLE — In response to the weekend’s tragic drowning in French Creek, Meadville Area Recreation Complex will host a pair of free Community Water Safety Days for area parents and children.

“Kids will not be getting into the water,” Assistant Director Chris Nuzback said of the planned program, which will last for approximately an hour and a half. “It’s strictly instructional.”

However, everyone who attends will receive a card for a future half-price admission to the Complex’s pool on a day of his or her choice.

This isn’t the kind of event where parents should drop off their kids and pick them up later, Nuzback stressed.

“On Safety Day, we want parents to come,” she said Monday. “It’s important for parents to experience it with their children so they can reinforce the training at home. When you talk to children about stranger danger, you don’t do it just one time. Water safety is something parents have to reinforce as well.”

The first session is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at the 800 Thurston Road Complex. The second is June 30 at 9 a.m.

The program features water safety guidelines from the American Red Cross and a short movie, Nuzback said, noting that staff members will also be in the pool demonstrating what bystanders can do if someone gets into trouble.

According to Nuzback, no one is too young to learn about water safety. “When they’re toddlers, that’s a really good time to introduce them to swimming,” she said. “Even in the bathtub, there are things they can do to learn how to breathe.”

It’s also never too late to learn. “Swimming is something you can learn that will carry you through life,” she said. “It’s like riding a bike. Everyone is around water at some time in their life.”



Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.



You can go

In response to the weekend’s tragic drowning in French Creek, Meadville Area Recreation Complex hosts free Community Water Safety Days on Monday at 7 p.m. and June 30 at 9 a.m. Parents are to attend with their children for the presentation on water safety. The program does not involve getting into the water.

n More information: Call 724-6006

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