May is Safety Around Water Month at the Y
The world is 71% water and your children are 100% curious
With May being National Water Safety Month and summer just around the corner, now is the time for parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of equipping their kids with essential water safety skills.
Swim safety is vitally important to fulfilling the Y’s mission and cause. As "America's Swim Instructor", the Y typically teaches more than 1,000,000 children invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year using the techniques from their "Safety Around Water Program." This program consists of eight lessons designed to teach kids water safety skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and build their skills and confidence in and around water.
Parents and guardians have a critical role to play in teaching their kids water safety skills – but they don’t have to do it alone! Check out our 5 Water Safety Tips to get prepared for this summer.
Equip your children with the tools they need to be safe and confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills.
Hard Facts About Drowning
- 9 in 10 U.S. parents see swimming as a key life skill for children, on par with first aid skills or being able to prepare a simple meal.
- 24% of U.S. parents have low confidence with water activities or bodies of water.
- In the U.S., drowning takes an average of 3,500-4,000 lives per year.
- Drowning is the second leading cause of death for kids ages 1-14.
- 23% of child drownings happen during a family gathering near a pool.
- Drowning is fast and silent. It can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds.
- Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages 1-4.
MEET NATHAN
Nathan is an 8-year-old child with special needs whose fear of water was a source of concern for his mother, Malia. He has always needed one-on-one instruction, as verbally communicating his needs can be challenging – especially when in group settings. She made it her mission to ensure his safety around pools and bodies of water. However, little did she know that her efforts would eventually lead to a surprising turn of events.
Learn more about Nathan and his My Y story here.
Home Activities — Developing Good Swim Technique
Practice swim technique at home or while enjoying family swim time at the Y to help develop good form and build stamina in a particular skill. When the skill has been mastered on land or in a bathtub, it becomes easier to perform in the water. Home activities should be performed under adult supervision.
View Our Home Activities Guide
Join Our Aquatics Team
Whether you're looking to help save lives as a lifeguard, teach kids how to move and be safe in the water as a friendly and encouraging swim lesson instructor, or be a motivating and instructive swim team coach, the YMCA has the aquatics job for you!