Opinion

Editorial: Water safety

Opinion

LAST HOLIDAY WEEKEND MARKED THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER. DURING THIS THREE DAY WEEKEND FOR MANY, MOST ENJOYED THE TIME OFF OUTDOORS, TAKING IN THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND WEATHER. BUT FOR THREE FAMILIES, THE PEACEFUL, ENERGIZING WEEKEND TURNED INTO TRAGEDY WITH THREE DROWNINGS OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK. AS WE ALL GET SET TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY MISSISSIPPI HAS TO OFFER, WE WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO MAKE SURE "YOU" TAKE A SECOND TO REMEMBER TO NOT LET ALL OF THE FUN CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. EVERY DAY, AN AVERAGE OF 11 PEOPLE IN THE US DIE FROM DROWNING - OF THOSE, 1 IN 5 ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15 AND HAD UNSUPERVISED ACCESS TO WATER. WE ALSO KNOW THAT INEXPERIENCED SWIMMERS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN MOST ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. THERE ARE MANY RESOURCES IN THE JACKSON AREA FOR SWIMMING LESSONS, INCLUDING THE 100 BLACK MEN OF JACKSON OFFER FREE SWIMMING LESSONS FOR CHILDREN, WITH OTHERS LIKE THE YMCA AND BAPTIST HEALTHPLEX OFFERING A PAID VERSION. ULTIMATELY, PLANNING IS THE KEY TO ENJOYING THIS TIME TO THE FULLEST AND NOT LETTING THIS SUMMER TU

Opinion

Editorial: Water safety

Last holiday weekend marked the unofficial start of summer. During this three-day weekend, for many, most enjoyed the time off outdoors, taking in the beautiful scenery and weather. But for three families, the peaceful, energizing weekend turned into tragedy with three drownings over the holiday break.As we all get set to enjoy the beauty Mississippi has to offer, we want to take a second to make sure you take a second to remember not to let all of the fun cloud your judgment.Every day, an average of 11 people in the U.S. die from drowning — of those, 1 in 5 are under the age of 15 and had unsupervised access to water. We also know that inexperienced swimmers play a major role in most accidental drownings.There are many resources in the Jackson area for swimming lessons, including The 100 Black Men of Jackson offer free swimming lessons for children, with others like the YMCA and Baptist Healthplex offering a paid version.Ultimately, planning is the key to enjoying this time to the fullest and not letting this summer turn into a summer you'll never forget for all the wrong reasons.

JACKSON, Miss. —

As we all get set to enjoy the beauty Mississippi has to offer, we want to take a second to make sure you take a second to remember not to let all of the fun cloud your judgment.

Every day, an average of 11 people in the U.S. die from drowning — of those, 1 in 5 are under the age of 15 and had unsupervised access to water. We also know that inexperienced swimmers play a major role in most accidental drownings.

There are many resources in the Jackson area for swimming lessons, including The 100 Black Men of Jackson offer free swimming lessons for children, with others like the YMCA and Baptist Healthplex offering a paid version.

Ultimately, planning is the key to enjoying this time to the fullest and not letting this summer turn into a summer you'll never forget for all the wrong reasons.