YMCA safety lesson goes swimmingly

Inspired to make something positive of a local tragedy, a La Cañada Flintridge Girl Scout and the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA teamed up Saturday to offer a water safety course for children and their families.

Kids practiced rescue and swimming safety techniques while parents learned how to make their backyard pools as safe as possible with the proper fences, gate latches, pool filters and flotation devices.

Heather Harris, the Y’s director of aquatics, said Girl Scout and YMCA Junior Lifeguard graduate Ariel Pezner suggested the program after learning about the death of 6-year-old Emily Fu, who drowned in her backyard pool during a Memorial May block party in La Cañada.

Harris said attendees learned important tips, such as how to identify when someone in the water is in trouble. They also learned never to jump in the water after them, but rather to use gear to reach out and help victims. Parents learned basic CPR, as well.

-- Bill Kisliuk, Times Community News

Twitter: @bkisliuk