As the calendar turns to August, officials on Long Island are raising a red flag about the dangers of the water. Suffolk County officials are once again sounding the alarm about a dramatic rise in water emergencies and drownings.
The death toll this year is what has them worried. There have been 10 drowning deaths in Suffolk County so far this year.
The rescue numbers are climbing too. Officials say there have been 88 water rescue calls, up from 64 at this time last year.
For the officials, each case represents a lasting loss. They say every drowning is a tragedy that leaves the families, friends and entire communities forever changed.
Their central message is about constant supervision. Officials say kids need to be watched at all times, that a responsible adult should always be designated to watch, and that parents should put down their phones and not allow distractions.
For at least one parent, the warning is personal. Julianne Williams of Bellport says her son had a close call in the water and that adults pulled him out quickly, and she now always keeps her eyes on him and does not let him in the pool unless she or one of his aunts or uncles is watching.
Officials stress that the rules are not just for children. They say water safety also applies to adults, that you are never too old to learn how to swim, and that several local programs offer affordable lessons, including the aquatic center in Mastic where the town offers low-cost indoor swimming lessons, while also advising people to swim near a lifeguard in open water at the beaches.