CLEARFIELD – The sun has been beaming, humidity high and the respite of a cool dip in the water has been calling! We’re all looking forward to some summer fun, however, unless our families are trained in swimming and water safety – a fun day at the beach can quickly turn dangerous. That’s why the Clearfield-Jefferson Red Cross is encouraging everyone, especially those with children, to know how to swim – and swim well – and to be mindful of water safety.
We have a variety of important water safety tips that are never old news. Roughly 5,000 drowning and near drowning accidents are reported each year. Many of these accidents could have been prevented with proper water safety training and early swimming instruction.
Keeping Children Safe In, On, and Around the Water
• Maintain constant supervision. Watch children around any water environment (pool, stream, lake, tub, toilet, bucket of water), no matter what skills your child has acquired and no matter how shallow the water. For younger children, practice “Reach Supervision” by staying within an arm’s length reach.
• Don’t rely on substitutes. The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.
• Enroll children in a water safety course. Your decision to provide your child with an early aquatic experience is a gift that will have infinite rewards. These courses encourage safe practices. You can also purchase a Water Safety Handbook at the Red Cross.
Parents should take a CPR course. Knowing these skills can be important around the water and you will expand your capabilities in providing care for your child.
Our Brookville office is in need of office volunteers to help answer the phone and offer front desk assistance. Anyone interested in volunteering to help out, please call 849-2712.
A multiphasic blood screening will be held at the Clearfield Red Cross office from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on September 22. This includes 35 multiphasic tests. For an additional fee, you may schedule prostate lab test for men and TSH. Free oximeter and blood pressure screenings. Call 765-5516 to register.
Health & Safety Classes:
Adult CPR – Clearfield – August 15
Brookville – September 12
Punxsutawney – September 10
Infant Child CPR – Clearfield – September 6
First Aid – Clearfield – August 16
Brookville – September 13
Punxsutawney – September 11
All of the above classes begin at 6:00 p.m. Call 765-5516 to register in Clearfield or 849-2712 to register in Brookville & Punxsutawney.
Clearfield Bloodmobile Schedule
Mon. Aug 13 Curwensville VFW 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tue. Aug. 14 Emmanuel United Methodist Church 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 17 Fixed Site 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wed. Aug. 22 Karthaus Fire Hall 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tue. August 28 Mountain Laurel Nursing & Rehab. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 30 Penn Dot 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Jefferson Bloodmobile Schedule
Thurs. Aug 16 Pinecreek Fire Hall Noon to 6 p.m.
Tue. Aug 21 Saints Cosmos & Damien Noon to 6 p.m.
The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization funded in part by United Way and by your generous donations Please support your Clearfield-Jefferson American Red Cross. Checks may be sent to Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 1100 S. Second St. Suite 2, Clearfield, Pa 16830, or Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 275 Main St., Brookville, Pa 15825. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and an RSVP Station.