As the scorching summer season has families flocking to pools, beaches, lakes, and other bodies of water along the Gulf Coast to escape the heat, the importance of water safety and learning how to swim becomes increasingly crucial.”I learned how to swim being with my friends,” said Xiaobin Tuo, a lieutenant commander for the U.S. Coast Guard.Tuo emphasized the importance of water safety, stating that it’s never too early to start swim lessons.”So if you got kiddos at home, get them into those swim classes,” Tuo said.Amani Khabir, the CEO of Brown Girls Swim, stressed the importance of understanding both aspects of water safety and swimming.”Water safety is an important skill … how do I help my friend without putting myself in danger?” Khabir said.The importance of water safety extends beyond pools to beaches, particularly in relation to rip currents. These strong, narrow, seaward flows of water extend from close …