Manely Firm - July 2019

S ummer S wimming S afety 3 Tips for Swimming in Open Water

NEVER SWIMALONE When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re

the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. WATCH FOR RIP CURRENTS These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy by swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current. time]. I knew I didn’t want to do that again, which is why I was surprised and happy to find a family law junior paralegal posting in my little town. I joined the team, and within a month, I was bumped up to paralegal.” Since day one, Melanie has been a wonderful addition to our team, doing everything and anything she can for our attorneys here at the Manely Firm and for each and every one of our clients. Melanie is dedicated to our cause in family law; she works tirelessly to secure the best results in every one of our cases. “What we do here is important,” Melanie says. “We help people who are in need. Many of our clients are in one of the worst moments in their lives, and they’re coming to us, so we can get their lives back on the right course. The best parts of my job are supporting our attorneys, helping our clients who are in these often devastating circumstances, and ensuring that [our clients] come out of it far better than when they first called our office.”

There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun.

prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. KNOWWHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and

M eet M elanie M ayo Our Commi tted Fami ly Law Paralegal

This month, we’re celebrating our hardworking legal paralegal, Melanie Mayo! Her fourth anniversary of working with us falls on Independence Day. All of us at the Manely Firm look forward to working with her for many more years, and we’d like to share a little more here about what makes Melanie such an incredible paralegal. “I’ve been a family law paralegal going on 26 years now, and I can’t imagine being in any other field,” Melanie says. Originally from Indiana, she moved to Georgia after she married in 1993. Shortly afterward, she started working as a receptionist for a local family law attorney, which had been in practice for over 40 years. “I really enjoyed the work there,” she remembers. “I was even promoted to legal secretary, and then later, [my boss] sent me back to school to become a paralegal. I loved it there, and I worked as his paralegal for the next 20 years until he retired.” After taking a few months off, Melanie decided to look for work again. “The whole time I was working with the other family law attorney, I had been driving to Atlanta, which took about an hour and a half [every

Thanks for everything you do, Melanie. Our attorneys and clients appreciate you.

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