NORTH TEXAS YMCAs COMMIT TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD DROWNING
‘It's Never Too Late to Learn' to Swim
According to the Red Cross, one in five adults in the United States can't swim. YMCA locations across North Texas offer adult swimming lessons to help people take the plunge and push past the fear.
Safety Around Water Program Aims to End Drowning Disparities
YMCA's Safety Around Water Program Aims to End Drowning Disparities: studies show African American and Hispanic children are at higher risk for drowning. In fact, data shows African American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their white peers.
YMCA Helps Special Needs Children Find Joy in the Water
The YMCA offers adaptive swimming lessons that help connect with students with special needs who need one-on-one attention to be successful. That’s important because drowning is the leading cause of death in children who are on the spectrum.
YMCA Warning Swimmers to Wear Life Jackets in Lakes & Rivers
Multiple drownings have been reported in North Texas since May. In most instances, drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. That's why the YMCA is really putting out an urgent alert this summer to wear life jackets at lakes, rivers, creeks and ponds.
NORTH TEXAS YMCAs COMMIT TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD DROWNING
Drowning is the second leading cause of death of preschoolers, second only to birth defects. That statistic, along with so many other sobering ones are why the YMCA’s of North Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington Mansfield Area) are committing today to eliminate childhood drowning in kids 4 and under.
YMCA Sets Goal of Eliminating Childhood Drowning
NBC 5 Today is kicking off Swim Week with the YMCA with a series of stories aimed at keeping you and your family safe around the water this summer.
THE WORLD IS 71% WATER.
ARE YOUR KIDS 100% PREPARED?
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.
What Is Safety Around Water?
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 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
This summer, take the Family Pledge to be safe around water!
As summer kicks off, please make a commitment with your family and friends to join the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas in keeping our children safe this summer. Before letting your children hit the water this summer, remember these few tips to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience.
- Never swim alone.
- Supervise your children whenever they’re in water. Download a Water Watcher Tag as a helpful reminder.
- Wear a Life Jacket. Inexperienced, non-swimmers and kids should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Know your (and your kids) swim capabilities. Swim lessons give every person the skills needed to be safe around water.
- 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 friend without compromising their own safety.
- Enroll your children in water safety or swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before they cross the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. The Y’s swim lesson program teach children fundamental water safety skills and what to do if they find themselves in water unexpectedly.
SWIM LESSONS
Students begin with and build upon skills they are ready to learn, helping them to celebrate their successes, build self-confidence, and enjoy learning to swim and water safety.
WATER SAFETY TIPS
Before letting your children hit the water, remember these few tips to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience!
Swim Lesson Stories
Tell us about your swim lesson experiences!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO is a campaign centered on educating our communities about dangers of drowning and important rules of water safety.
Studies have shown that minority children are three times more likely to drown. Studies indicate that 60% of all African-American children are unable to swim. Today, a residential pool is 14 times more likely to the take the life of a child than an automobile.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Children’s Health, Alliance Data, the Safe Kids Greater Dallas, and Independent Pool and Spa Service Association (IPSSA) are committed to providing communities with effective swim safety presentations and on-going educational information. The YMCA and our vital partners in this initiative are committed to keeping children safe in and around water, and providing knowledge needed to prevent potentially dangerous and fatal situations.
RESOURCES:
DOWNLOAD YOUR WATER WATCHER TAG
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO - TIP SHEET
PURCHASE A WATER SAFETY CHILDREN'S BOOK: Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim: A Child's First Guide to Water Safety
WATCH OUR WATER SAFETY VIDEOS
CONTACT US
If you would like to volunteer or sponsor a water safety presentation, email KBYG@childrens.com
MEDIA INQUIRES
For media inquires, please email mediarelations@childrens.com