To kick off April Drowning Prevention Awareness Month in Palm Beach County, the Drowning Prevention Coalition (DPC) of Palm Beach County is offering free/reduced cost swim lessons to qualified children aged 2 to 12. Lessons are paid for by the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County and are offered at 18 locations throughout Palm Beach County. To see if your child(ren) qualify, visit www.pbcgov.org/dpc and follow the instructions.

To make water safety a top priority:

1. Maintain vigilant adult supervision when children are in or near water.
2. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. “Water wings" or “floaties," inflatable water rings and other pool toys, are NOT safety devices. Only U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are designed and tested for safety.
3. Always swim at a lifeguarded beach, and pay attention to the beach flags.
4. Wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets when boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, jet skiing, and if not a strong swimmer.
5. Learn CPR.
6. When at a party, designate a sober adult water watcher (using a distinguishable item such as a lanyard or funny hat) for 15-minute intervals. The water watcher's sole responsibility is to walk around the pool and watch the area without distraction. After 15 minutes, give the distinguishable item to another adult for the next watch.

For more information on water safety swim lessons and water safety/drowning prevention education, please visit the DPC website at www.pbcgov.org/dpc or call 561-616-7068. The coalition is funded by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County and managed by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.