DENTON, Md.- A community is now pushing for a water safety program after recent drownings in Caroline County. Caroline County Parks and Recreation Sue Simmons Director said the tragic losses have played a huge role in their efforts.
"The loss of life is what it took to sort of shake the awareness of what a critical need this is," said Simmons.
Parks and Recreation and the local Chesapeake YMCA partnered in July to hold a free water safety program. Their goal is to bring back swimming lessons to the county.
With all the water surrounding Caroline County some residents say, teaching water safety is essential for the youth of this community.
"It's a very exciting good thing to teach the kids how to swim and to teach the kids responsibility how to be able to take care of themselves when they are in the water," said Joanne Clanton of Denton. "It will also teach them how to rescue people and to think about what they are doing before they get into the water, it's safety habit that's what everyone needs to know and learn."
Emmanuel Medina lives in Denton and said that some of the rivers are more dangerous then they look.
"Right where that bridge is down there it's a bad undercurrent and there have been a few drownings down there, so I mean for them to be able to react to all of that I mean that's great," Medina said.
