As families get ready to take their kids to the beaches and pools this summer, the YMCA of Central Florida is raising awareness on drowning prevention.
Florida Health reported that there are enough children under the age of five lost to drowning to fill up three to four preschool classrooms annually. May is National Drowning Prevention Month, and the YMCA of Central Florida is offering programs like Safety Around Water and Safe Start, which teach children to float, rest, and breathe in water. Lessons start as early as six months old.
“These programs are critical because drowning is a leading cause of death for young children 1-4 years old, especially in Florida,” John Lewis, Associate Vice President of Aquatics at the YMCA of Central Florida said. “Safety Around Water and Safe Start provide essential life-saving skills, build confidence in and around the water, and educate caregivers on how to prevent accidents before they happen. Drowning is 100% preventable.”
Lewis said Safety Around Water teaches swimming, whereas Safe Start focuses on survival swim strategies. He said children learn foundational water safety skills such as asking for permission to enter the water, how to float, and reach for a wall when in need.
“It’s important that caregivers don’t view swim lessons as “just a summer activity.” With so much access to water, caregivers should consider enrolling in swim lessons as early and as often as possible,” Lewis said.
He said most YMCA locations have swim lessons running from March-November, and some locations with an indoor pool have programs going year-round.
YMCA members receive discounted rates for swim lessons, but Lewis said there is a set rate on their Safe Start program for everyone, including non-members. Lewis also said financial assistance is available to ensure there is no barrier to participating in these programs, as their main goal is making life-saving swim lessons accessible to everyone.
“We hope families leave feeling empowered, informed, and confident in their child’s water safety skills,” Lewis said. “Most importantly, we want every child to be safer around water and every parent to feel equipped to prevent drowning.”
Below are a few tips Lewis has for parents to practice water safety at home:
- Always supervise your child near water, even if it’s shallow
- Practice back floating and reaching for the wall during bath time
- Teach your child to ask for permission before getting into the water
- Designate a “Water Watcher” during swim time
- If you have a pool at your home, it is always recommended that you implement multiple “layers of protection,” including door alarms, safety locks/latches, and putting a gate or fence around your pool