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Do go near the water

By ANDREW MEACHAM
Published April 21, 2006

	[Times photo: Skip O'Rourke]
	Morgyn Herndon, 15 months, heads for the target the hands of her mom Shellie Herndon at Dolphin Babies Swim School in Seffner.

Summer has arrived. Because even good swimmers can make mistakes, parents should take extra steps to ensure safety in the water, said Laura Howe, a Southeast regional spokeswoman for the American Red Cross.

SWIMMING LESSONS

The pools below in eastern Hillsborough offer swimming lessons for children:

* Campo Family YMCA, 3414 Culbreath Road, Valrico, 684-1371, tampaymca.org/cpo.

* Brandon Family YMCA, 3097 N Kingsway Road, 685-5402, tampaymca.org/br.

* Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, 757-6677, tampaymca.org/pc.

* Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center, 405 Beverly Blvd., 689-0908, mybsac.org, then click on programs, then swim lessons.

* Sharks & Minnows Swim School, the Springs at Bloomingdale, 5959 Bandera Springs Circle, Riverview, 1-800-511-7946, sharksandminnows.com.

Recommended measures:

* Learn to swim. This applies to children and adults.

* Complete a course in CPR.

* Enroll your child in a water safety course.

* Never leave a child unobserved, even in shallow water.

* Get toys that are not being used out of the water (to protect young children who may be attracted to those toys).

* Make sure any flotation devices your child uses are the right size for your child's body. "They are not a substitute for knowing how to swim," Howe said.

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 12:42:22]