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Brandon/Winthrop Edition
Volume 18, Issue 7
PROTECTING YOUR KIDS THIS FIVE BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPRINGS IN FLORIDA TO VISIT SUMMER IN THE WATER By Ashley Abene
Summer break in knows CPR. Being Florida comes with trained in infant and heat, humidity and child CPR could save mosquitoes. Kids, a life. desperate to stay Finally, teach cool, look for the survival swim closest body of waskills and swimter, such as a pool or High 5 Inc. offers all levels of swimming to all chilgoing to the beach. dren. Babies can ming lessons at its facilities. But what normally even learn to self-resis a fun-filled activity cue as early as 6 can quickly turn danmonths old. There gerous. Many parare many places ofents may not realize fering swim lessons that for children ages locally, such as: 1-4, drowning is the the YMCA, High leading cause of ac5 Inc., Kinder cidental death, and, Swim, Watermelfor 5 to 14-year-olds, on Swim, AngelThe Tampa YMCA offers a free ‘Safety the second-leading fish Swim School and Around Water’ course during the summer cause. that teaches children vital water survival several others. Sadly, drownings The YMCA even skills. often occur within 10 offers a program for feet of an adult (it’s quiet and fast). As free called ‘Safety Around Water.’ Lacey parents and caregivers, what can be done Boldman, senior director of aquatics and to keep your kids safe in or around water? swim at the Tampa YMCA, stated that First, be aware of nearby pools of wa- the YMCA offers this program from “May ter. Children should know to ask for per- 8-11, and then we are hosting it again mission to go near any water. Also, all August 21-24. The skills that we focus on pools and hot tubs need to have a safety during that program are submerge, jump, fence. If a lake, pool or river is nearby, push, turn/grab and swim/float/swim. In make sure that children are within arm’s addition to that program, during all of our reach (especially kids who are not able to regular group swim lesson programming swim yet). (in the beginner stages), they focus on Second, have a designated ‘water those important ‘self-rescue’ skills.” watcher,’ alternating watchers every 30 These are just a few of the things you minutes. The water watcher makes sure can do to keep your children’s summer to keep an eye on all children in the water break both fun and safe. You can check and isn’t distracted (no texting or talking). out more tips on water safety at the Often, drownings occur because adults American Red Cross’ website at www. believe someone else is watching the kids redcross.org/get-help/how-to-preparesince there are many other adults present. for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/ Third, have someone available who water-safety.html.
THIS SUMMER
By Ella Shockley
Florida’s natural and plenty of dining opsprings attract thoutions. sands of visitors every Blue Spring State year. With their beauPark, located in Ortiful water and ameniange City, is home of ties, there’s no better the Thursby House, hisway to spend a hot, torically where Louis sunny day. Here are the Thursby shipped tourThis beautiful spring is found below top five natural springs the surface, in an underground cave ists and goods to Jackto visit all around Flor- where visitors can snorkel around, or sonville back in 1856. ida this summer with even scuba dive if they wish at Devil’s Costing $6 per vehicle, activities and amenimanatees are ready to Den Spring. ties to fill a whole sumbe seen at this location. mer day for your family. Also, activities such Ichetucknee Springs as birding, boat tours, State Park, located in camping, fishing, hiking, Fort White, is home of paddling, scuba diving, a national landmark, picnicking, snorkeling, the Ichetucknee Head swimming and tubing These ancient relics can be found un- are all available. Spring. Costing only $8 per vehicle for entry, derwater in the famous Silver Spring Devil’s Den Spring, at Silver Springs State Park. this park includes family located right between favorites such as tubing, kayaking, ca- Ichetucknee and Silver Springs in Wilnoeing, paddling, swimming, snorkeling liston, is known to be an underground and even scuba diving. No need to wor- spring home to many extinct animal ry about buying tubes or kayaks before fossils dating back to Pleistocene age. you go, as the general store at this spring Costing between $18-$25, this spring has rentals of all types available so your offers snorkeling and scuba diving in a family can have the perfect day at the prehistoric cave, a picnic/grill area, a springs. heated swimming pool and assorted lawn Silver Springs State Park, located in games, as well as camping and a RV park. Silver Springs, is home to the filming of Wekiwa Springs State Park, located over 20 movies back in old Hollywood, in- in Apopka, was the first tourist attraccluding Rebel Without a Cause, starring tion in Central Florida, just miles outside James Dean; Distant Drums, starring Gary of Orlando. Costing $6 per vehicle, this Cooper; the James Bond movie Moonrak- spring is home to unique amenities like er; Creature from the Black Lagoon; and horseback riding and mountain biking six Tarzan flicks. Costing only $8 for en- while including activities like paddling, try, its amenities include glass-bottom fishing, geocaching and four different boats, paddling, hiking, wildlife/birding, types of camping. camping, educational sites (museum and For more information on the springs environmental center), cracker village listed, visit www.floridastateparks.org.