Temperatures are heating up and families are hitting their favorite water spots to cool down.

Before getting too comfortable at the creek, river, ocean or pool make sure your child is prepared with swim lessons.

The Tom Byrne Park pool began giving their first session of swim lessons on Tuesday with two more sessions coming later this summer.

Betty Warren, director of the Tom Byrne Park pool said having children participate in swim lessons is always important.

“It can be the difference between life and death,” Warren said. “It’s like CPR. Our ability to offer swim lessons at such a low cost is wonderful and important because we are so close to the water.”

With the swim lessons, students learn several skills that will help them have a safer, more fun experience in the water.

Warren said the classes at the pool do a good job of teaching even the smallest children important techniques.

“We go over safety skills and how to respect the water,” Warren said. “You’d be surprised at how much the little ones will remember. We have parents come and tell us how their child came home and explained the techniques they learned in their swim lesson.”

Safety is always an important factor at the pool in Tom Byrne Park.

Warren said keeping the children safe is always first priority.

“Whether it’s teaching them safety in swim lessons or just making sure they are safe in public swimming, we make sure children are safe,” Warren said. “For public swimming, we have four lifeguards and don’t let them leave the pool area unless we are instructed too.”

The cost of swim lessons at the Tom Byrne Park pool is $35.

Swimming lessons

• Monday- Friday from 9 a.m. until noon (1-hour sessions)

• Tuesday & Thursday from 5:20 p.m. until 6:50 p.m. (Thirty-minute sessions).

Swim lesson registration

• June 21-until classes full from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. (Classes begin June 28)

• July 12-until classes full from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. (Classes begin July 19).