Officials Urge Water Safety Ahead of Summer Season
Chris Bradford is the associate executive director of the YMCA in Waco. He says drownings happen more often than people may realize.
'The leading cause of accidental death in children between the ages of one and four is drowning,' Bradford said. 'Children are more likely to drown than they are to be in a motor vehicle accident. So if your child cannot learn to swim, the best thing that you can do is put them in swim lessons or make sure that they are in that U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.'
This same advice applies to area lakes, including Lake Waco.
'Life jackets only work if you use them, so we highly recommend that you're wearing them when you're out on the water,' said Arianna Jacinto, Lake Waco's lead park ranger. 'We have designated swim beaches here around our lake. We have Twin Bridges and we have Airport Park, and both of them are delineated with swim buoys to help keep boats out, and we also have life jacket loaner stations.'
Jacinto said the life jacket loaner stations are free to use, and are available for anyone on the water. Visitors are encouraged to return the jackets after use so others can stay safe, too.
Whether you're swimming at home this summer, at a public pool or out on the lake, the message remains the same — stay aware, be prepared, and always prioritize safety, no matter your age.
'You are more likely that your child does not learn to swim if you yourself cannot swim. Fear is transferable to our children. So if you have a fear of the water, your children will have a fear of the water,' Bradford said.
Experts agree that enrolling in swim lessons is one of the best investments a family can make to prepare for summer.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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