Two recent events in the local area have emphasized the importance of water safety.
First, there was the tragic death of 8-year-old Matthew Mundy, who fell into a pond in Otego a couple of weeks ago when he lost his grip while swinging on a rope.
Then a father and son canoeing in the Susquehanna River in Oneonta were rescued from the water after their canoe hit a stump and overturned last weekend.
The weather this weekend may not have too many people rushing for the water, but the season of swimming, boating and other aquatic pastimes is upon us. What the two incidents show is that accidents can happen any time, despite efforts to prevent them.
It's hard to imagine anything Matthew's family could have done differently to prevent his tragic death. However, the accident does show how quickly a situation can become life-threatening. It's important that children playing in or near the water be supervised by an adult _ specifically, one who knows how to swim.
Parents whose children spend a lot of time swimming in areas without lifeguards would do well to learn CPR. The American Red Cross offers classes frequently in the local area.
For a complete schedule, visit www.southerntierredcross.org.
When Harold Ashe's canoe overturned in the Susquehanna, he and his son were wearing life jackets. We shudder to think what the outcome might have been otherwise _ state police Sgt. David Segit said the two were "fortunate to be alive" as it was.
Spending time on and in the water is one of the great pleasures of summertime. But please, make water safety a priority.
{"Headline24"/}Partnership helps combat RN shortage
{"Body Text Edit"/}The nursing shortage isn't an issue that can be shrugged off as someone else's problem. It's an issue directly affecting our area.
To help combat the shortage, Bassett Healthcare's Partnership for Nursing Opportunities, conducted with Hartwick College and the State University College of Technology at Delhi, recently received a $250,000 grant from the Scriven Foundation.
With the help of this grant, five registered nurses at Bassett Healthcare are teaching nursing students.
The award, Bassett officials said, will enhance instruction, clinical experience and patient care.
Officials at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital said any program promoting the nursing profession and advancing nursing students is good for the medical field and patients. We couldn't agree more.
As more and more nurses in our area begin to retire, more nurses will be needed.
We're happy to see a program in our area working to address this need.
The Scriven grant rewards and recognizes the partnership's hard work, and we're proud to have such an entity in our backyard, working to benefit the community for years to come.
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