JROTC cadets from the surrounding area took part in learning about water rescue as members of Butler County Water Rescue Team 300 on Thursday afternoon, June 15, 2023, conducted training of cadets on Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

Last week, more than 75 students took place in a water rescue training, hosted by the Butler County Water Rescue Team 300.

The valuable training returned to the Seneca Valley JROTC’s weeklong summer program — which is open to many school districts — for the first time since 2019, we reported in Friday’s print edition of the newspaper.

The training was intended to teach students about the process and water rescue tactics, but also introduced the program in a way that could encourage them to volunteer one day.

“We educate them that there is a county water rescue team,” first sergeant for Seneca Valley JROTC, Angelo Lettiere said. “If I can get one or two of these kids to volunteer, it makes our jobs a lot easier.”

Later this week, Cranberry Township will join in an international effort to teach swimming safety habits. The event set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the township’s waterpark in North Boundary Park, 450 North Boundary Park Drive is the 14th annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.

We wrote about this recently, saying that the more children between the ages of 1 and 4 in the United States die from drowning than any other cause of death, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the summer heats up, more and more people will visit area pools and maybe even take a swim at state parks to cool off. Be sure to be safe and watch little ones in the process.

It’s all fun in the sun, until its not. Listen to those who lead events like the ones mentioned above, and are taking initiative to let people know about water safety.

We unfortunately recall reporting the drowning death of a 54-year-old man at Moraine State Park’s Lake Arthur last summer. The man had been on vacation with his family.

His cause of death was deemed accidental drowning.

At that time, Dustin Drew, park manager, said the man lost his footing and fell into a 16-foot drop-off in the water after trying to retrieve an object.

These kinds of things do happen here in Butler County. Be safe.

— TL