Swim Center to Spotlight Best Poolside Practices Tonight

Adults and kids will have an opportunity to brush up on best poolside practices this evening at at the .

Mark Eldridge, superintendent of the Swim and Fitness Center, said the event was organized for the first time this year to create a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that will allow pool users an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about water safety. The free event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

"We just wanted to try and offer people who might not be comfortable at a swimming facility a chance for them to come and learn about how to be safe at our facility and how to be safe around water in general," Eldridge said.

Ten stations will be set up for adults and children and will teach topics like how to correctly use a life jacket.

"We see lots of people come to our facility and ask for a lifejacket and then have no idea how to use it," Eldridge said.

Other safety stations will cover how to assist someone who appears to be struggling in the water and how to best protect your skin from sun damage. The center also will offer free swimming lesson placement testing. Instructors will gauge a student's skill level in the pool and then recommend an appropriate class.

"We obviously offer a wide assortment of swim lessons here based on the ability of the people in the class," Eldridge said.

The Water Safety Awareness Day event is free to attend. Swim suits are not required to participate, but are encouraged if attendees want to be tested for swimming lesson placement. The Swim and Fitness Center is located at 355 Martins Lane in Rockville.

Attendees who visit at least five of the 10 safety stations will receive a free pool pass to use later this summer. Admission to the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center is $7 for adults and $6 for children. Rockville residents who have a recreation ID receive a $1 discount.