🏊♂️ WATER SAFETY FIRST: HELPING OUR RED DEVILS STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER! ☀️
🏊♂️ WATER SAFETY FIRST: HELPING OUR RED DEVILS STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER! ☀️
Summer is officially upon us, and water activities are in full swing! Whether your family is heading out to Lake Ouachita, spending the weekend on the Ouachita River, or relaxing by a local pool, keeping our students safe in and around the water is our top priority.
Did you know that learning to swim can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%? Yet, according to national data, nearly half of all adults cannot swim well enough to save themselves. Even strong, experienced swimmers can face unexpected dangers in open water.
As we dive into the sunniest months of the year, Mountain Pine School District wants to share these essential reminders and local resources to help protect our students.
🛑 Core Water Safety Rules for Families
- Designate a "Water Watcher": Never leave children unattended near water. Designate a responsible adult whose sole job is to keep their eyes on the water without distractions (no phones or texting).
- Wear a Life Jacket: When boating, tubing, or swimming in lakes and rivers, ensure everyone—especially children and weak swimmers—is wearing a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Know the Environment: Natural bodies of water have hidden hazards like strong currents, sudden drop-offs, underwater debris, and changing water temperatures. Always check the area before letting students swim.
- Learn Swim Skills & Water Smarts: True water competency means knowing how to float, tread water, exit a pool safely, and recognize when someone else is in trouble.
📋 Local Training, Swim Lessons, & Educational Resources
We encourage all families to take advantage of local training opportunities and educational resources to build strong swimming skills and water smarts:🏊 Local Swimming Lessons & Training:
- Hot Springs Family YMCA: Offers seasonal youth swimming lessons and water safety clinics. You can check their schedules and financial assistance options on the Hot Springs YMCA Website.
- Every Child A Swimmer: Provides resources and low-to-no-cost scholarships for swim lessons to ensure every child has access to life-saving skills. Learn more at Every Child A Swimmer.
- American Red Cross: Provides comprehensive guides on water competency and localized swim safety courses. Explore their digital materials at Red Cross Swim Safety.
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, must successfully complete an approved AGFC Boater Education Course to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Arkansas. Find a local or online class at AGFC Boater Education.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Great for kid-friendly water safety activities and resources. Check out Please Wear It and visit Bobber the Water Safety Dog for fun games and downloadable coloring books that teach young students about life jackets.
By working together to improve water competency, we can make sure our summer memories are filled with fun, laughter, and—most importantly—safety.
Have a wonderful, safe, and happy summer, Red Devil Nation! 🔴⚪⚓
#MountainPine #MPSD #WaterSafety #SummerSafety #DevilPride #CommunityCare #HealthyRedDevils