Take the Family Pledge to be safe around water!

Family enjoying summer holidays in pool stock photo

THE WORLD IS 71% WATER.

ARE YOUR KIDS 100% PREPARED?

    Please make a commitment with your family and friends to join the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas in keeping our children safe. Before letting your children hit the water, remember these few tips to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience.

    1. Never swim alone.
    2. Supervise your children whenever they’re in the water. Download a Water Watcher Tag as a helpful reminder.
    3. Wear a Life Jacket. Inexperienced, non-swimmers and kids should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. 
    4. Know your (and your kid's) swim capabilities. Swim lessons give every person the skills needed to be safe around water.
    5. Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique children can help their friends without compromising their own safety.
    6. Enroll your children in water safety or swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before crossing the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. The Y’s Safety Around Water - swim lesson program teaches children fundamental water safety skills and what to do if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly.

     

     

    Tell me more about the YMCA Safety Around Water Program!

    Teaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program can help you make sure they learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them to satisfy their curiosity safely. Through learning how to perform a sequenced set of skills over eight lessons of 40 minutes each, the risk of drowning is reduced, giving your child confidence in and around water.

    A typical session includes:

    • Exercises to help kids adjust to being in the water
    • Instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water
    • Specific safety topics, like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help
    • Fun activities that reinforce skills

    For more information about water safety, visit: www.ymcadallas.org/safetyaroundwater