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YMCA Engages and Educates Youth and Families On Importance of Water Safety

• According to the USA Swimming Foundation and University of Memphis, two children die every day because of drowning.

• According to a national research study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation, the University of Memphis and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 60 percent of African American and 45 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim compared to 40 percent of Caucasian children.

• In 2017, 44 people drowned in Minnesota in boating and non-boating related accidents, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, engages and educates parents about the importance of water safety skills and emphasizes access to water safety lessons for America’s youth during National Water Safety Month.

As the season turns from winter to spring, the YMCA encourages children and parents to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. In Y swim programs participants can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends and develop confidence, and most importantly learn safety skills that can save lives.

“It’s never too early to get children involved in swimming to keep them active, healthy and safe around water,” says Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities. “There are so many options for parents and the best place to start is by learning basic water safety skills that help get kids familiar with the water and then often continue with swim lessons, competitive swim programs and possibly even a career like lifeguarding or coaching.”

Gunderson added as part of National Water Safety Month, parents are encouraged to take an active role in fostering a relationship between their children and swimming. The Y offers several programs promoting the benefits of swimming including:

• Safety Around Water: This free program for kids ages five to 14 years helps them learn how to stay safe around water, including personal water safety techniques and what to do if they see someone who needs help.

• Y Swim Lessons: The Y’s swim lessons for infants, kids and teens are the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming.

• Competitive Swim: YMCA competitive swimming and diving teams are the natural progression from Safety Around Water and Y Swim Lessons by encouraging children and teens to continue their love of swimming while providing an ideal environment for cognitive, physical and social-emotional development.

See how Johnson High School Junior Sarena Vue became a lifeguard and how the Y combats a nationwide lifeguard shortage. – Lifeguards Keep Pools Safe

Learn about the YMCA Free Swim program that provides access to swim lessons in underserved communities. – Free Swim Lessons

Discover how John E. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School partners with the St. Paul Eastside YMCA to provide water safety classes for their students. – Be Safe Around Water

The YMCA Safety Around Water program teaches kids what they need to do to stay safe in pools, lakes and rivers. In addition to learning what to do if a friend is in trouble, kids develop skills to help if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly:

• Jump, Push, Turn and Grab – teaches a child to push off the bottom of the pool as they are submerging to get back up to the surface and turn to grab the side of the pool.

• Swim, Float, Swim – teaches children to swim a short distance on their front, roll over on their back to rest, and then roll on their front to continue swimming to safety.

The YMCA reaches over 4,000 people through the Safety Around Water program. Thanks to partnerships with Abbey’s Hope, Delta Air Lines, Hawkins Inc. and Hennepin County, the program is available free of charge so all can participate.

Along with the Safety Around Water program, the YMCA offers kids and parents life-saving tips including:

• Never swim alone.

• Adults should constantly and actively watch children in their care.

• Always keep young children or non-swimmers within arm’s reach of parent or guardian.

• Inexperience or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Because the Y is a leading nonprofit committed to helping all young people and their families thrive, financial assistance is available to those in need. To learn more about the Y’s programs, please visit ymcamn.org.

About the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

The YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 162 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit http://www.ymcamn.org.

Courtesy of the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities

 

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