The YMCA Safety Around Water Program, supported by a YMCA of the USA grant, allows the YMCA of Northern Colorado to offer free water safety lessons to kids from local school districts, as well as the Head Start program, come to the Y for lessons to develop
water safety, water confidence and self-rescue skills.
More than 600 local children have taken Safety Around Water lessons.
The Safety Around Water Program is about far more than being safe. It’s about providing your children new opportunities for growth and development. It’s about your children staying active and healthy. It’s about them gaining the confidence
that comes from accomplishing new skills.
What Is YMCA Safety Around Water?
When your child participates in Safety Around Water, you are giving them skills to help keep them safe for a lifetime. Through learning how to perform a sequenced set of skills over a series of lessons, the risk of drowning is reduced and gives your child
confidence in and around water. Lessons are given at different days/times for each school. 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, such as what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help.
- Fun activities that reinforce skills.
Why Is This Program Important?
- Three children in the United States die every day because of drowning.
- In Colorado, an average of 17 people die due to water-related incidents each year.
- A large percentage of children drown within 6 to 10 feet away from the pool wall. Most of these drownings happen because of the lack of basic swimming knowledge and skills.
- Of all drowning incidents, 61 percent occur in pools and natural bodies of water. 10 percent occur in bathtubs and another 9 percent while boating.
- Among urban youth, 69 percent have low or no swimming skills.
Volunteers Needed
Help us teach local Head Start students life changing water safety skills. No teaching/lesson experience is necessary and all training is provided. For details and to sign up, call 303-443-4474 x1492 or email volunteer@ymcanoco.org.