The Preston Center aquatics staff hosted a water safety and swimming lesson on Wednesday, Feb. 28 as part of its three-week program.
Aquatics coordinator Kate Dennis said “over 44% of adults can’t save themselves in a drowning situation due to not learning how to swim at a young age.”
Dennis explained she hopes to educate students on the importance of being safe around water, and most importantly knowing how to swim.
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Student swim instructors, junior Lilly Parmer and freshman Alex Moore, taught four first-time swimmers, Simon Khai, Hsar Moo, Au Reh and Pha Meh, how to float, do the backstroke and freestyle at their first-ever lesson.
Khai said he and his friends wanted to learn how to swim in preparation for “future trips that may involve water.”
Junior Western Kentucky University student and swim instructor Lilly Parmer supports first time swimmer Pha Meh shoulders while teaching a group of students how to float on their back in the Bill Powell Natatorium at WKU on Feb. 28, 2024. “It’s really fulfilling watching someone go from not knowing how to swim to becoming confident and capable and also just being safe around water,” Parmer said. (Von Smith)A group of friends Hgar Moo (front right), Au Reh (far left), Simon Khai (back) and Pha Meh (center) attend their first swimming lesson to prepare for future vacations involving water at the Bill Powell Natatorium at WKU on Feb. 28, 2024. (Von Smith )Au Reh (right) and Pha Meh laugh at each other while learning to paddle on their flotation devices in the Bill Powell Natatorium at WKU on Feb. 28, 2024. (Von Smith)New swimmers at their first swimming lesson trade in their flotation devices to try wading in the shallow water on Feb. 28, 2024. (Von Smith)Student Hgar Moo swims backwards with the help of a life guard flotation device during his swim lesson in the Bill Powell Natatorium at WKU on Feb. 28, 2024. (Von Smith)Junior swim instructor Lilly Parmer supports the shoulders of first-time-swimmer Simon Khai while teaching students how to float on their backs at their first swim lesson in the Bill Powell Natatorium at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Ky. On Feb. 28, 2024. (Von Smith)
