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Meanwhile, most of the teenâ€" agers and adults spotted by the patrollers rode around town with their heads unprotected, according to Barb Armstrong, fit- ness supervisor for the Town of Whitchurchâ€"Stouifiille. The law in Ontario requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet while cycling. After two seasons Of focusing on rewarding cyclists of all ages for wearing helmets and encour- But it appears local cyclists are not doing all they can to be safe or courteous. This year's Helmet Patrol pro- gram, which ran from mid-May to the end of June, found that just slightly over half â€" or 59 per cent â€" of children under the age of 12, who were spotted by the patrollers, wore a helmet. “You have to think of all the people watching you, you’re (the children's) idol,” Ms Armstrong The example set by the adults and teens raised some concerns. BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com So far this summer, the weather could not be more per- feet for taking the bike out for a ride around town. Helmet law largely ignored, patrol finds Onma\al agreement #40051189 SWi-fiibune See SIDEWALK, page I9. SHARE THAT OPINION. E-MAIL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO SBOLAN@YRMG.COM THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010 I SERVINGTHE COMMUNITY OF WHITCHURCHâ€"STOUFFVILLE I 24 PAGES/$1 FEATURE: Lifesaving courses, drowning prevention class make swimming a life skill, not just a pastime STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN The two men found themselves in this situa- tion, according to Mr. Green, by walking out onto a sandbar that had an unexpected drop. They were not wearing life jackets. “He took two steps and was in deep water and couldn't swim," Mr. Green said. “The Algonqujan water up there is so deceiving because it’s so dark” “They were fine, just exhausted," Mr. Green said. But had W111 not heard the screams “they would have been dead”. . “The first guy couldn't swim and the second guy could barely keep his head above water,” Mr. Green said, adding when the second man reached the first, he was pulled under despite cries from Will to keep his distance. The Greens threw the first man a life jacket and the second a tow rope. Mth the two men clinging to each other, the Greens pulled them to the bow of their canoe and brought them back to shore. V Will, 15, and his father William, ran to the water, which was about 20 feet away. They saw one man flailing in the water and another jumping out of a canoe swimming towards him. The Greens get into their canoe and started pad- dling towards the men. Will Green and his family were in the midst of their annual vacation at Algonqujan Park's Kearney Lake when they heard screams coming from the beach. Puck handling. dribbling, or home-run hitting are all great athletic skills, but they won’t save any lives, as one local resident discovered last summer. Water safety kn ow-how saves lives Earlier this year Will received a Rescue Award of BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com See BACKYARD, page 2 B rthau ewellers (905,), 5494545 6312 min Sm Slouflvm.