With children and teenagers enjoying summer break and looking for ways to cool off from the South Texas heat, many families are heading to pools, beaches, resacas, and other waterways for recreation. However, local officials are reminding residents that water-related activities can quickly become dangerous for those who do not know how to swim. As water activity increases during the summer months, safety experts are encouraging families to take precautions and prioritize swimming education.
Xavier Del Bosque, Aquatics and Compliance Coordinator for the City of Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department, said learning to swim is especially important in a community surrounded by pools, beaches, resacas, and other bodies of water. “There are many dangerous factors that come with water that people don’t understand, so getting everyone exposed to that curriculum of learning how to swim and receiving water safety instruction is honestly the best benefit,” Del Bosque said. According to safety experts, drowning can happen in a matter of seconds and often occurs silently, making constant supervision critical. Children and inexperienced swimmers are particularly at risk.
For Brownsville parent Veronica Guerra, water safety is a top priority. She recently enrolled her 4-year-old daughter, Aliana, in swimming lessons to help protect her from potential dangers. “She’s fearless, and that’s what scares me,” Guerra said. “It’s very important that at a young age they learn how to swim. I have heard of so many tragedies and, just lately, kids going fishing, going in the water, and not knowing how to swim.” Certified Red Cross lifeguard Camila Trejo said introducing children to swimming lessons early can help them develop confidence and essential life-saving skills.
“They don’t have as many fears, and they don’t think as much because they are little, so they are able to get up pretty quickly, which is so important,” Trejo said. “It’s a life skill.” Experts recommend that parents closely supervise children at all times when they are near water, even in shallow areas. They also encourage the use of properly fitted life jackets when appropriate and advise against swimming alone. As families continue to enjoy summer activities, officials hope increased awareness and swimming education will help prevent tragedies and keep residents safe in and around the water.
For more information about local swimming lessons and water safety programs, residents can contact the Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/11zxKPmWxXQ?si=2V2_uiAQK_D9WOzV&start=7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Source: City of Brownsville
