Summer starts one week from today, and Iowans who plan to vacation near a pool, lake or ocean during the next few months should know how to swim. Trish Colby, the aquatics coordinator for the Central Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross, says knowing how to swim is the number-one way to stay safe.Colby says parents should consider enrolling their kids in swimming classes so they’ll be able to enjoy a refreshing dip too. She says even kids who know how to swim must still be closely watched and adults should be within arms length of the child to be able to react quickly. Colby says those blow-up “water wings” offer some help but shouldn’t be used for non-swimming children. She recommends personal flotation devices instead. Colby says it’s not a tremendous investment of time or money to learn how to swim.She says Red Cross chapters across Iowa are starting up their swimming programs this month. Visit “www.redcross.org” or call the nearest chapter.
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