Temperatures are rising, and pools will open soon to enthusiastic water bugs of all ages. Starting my YMCA career as a lifeguard more than 25 years ago, I know firsthand the importance of keeping kids safe around the water. As I watched thousands of children learn swimming skills that will last a lifetime, I also witnessed the self-esteem and confidence coupled with smiles as they gained a sense of accomplishment.
Preventing drowning is a top priority at YMCAs across the country, especially since fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children 1 to 14 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning more than any other cause of death. This problem is particularly prevalent among minority communities. For example, African American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their Caucasian counterparts. The disparity is partly due to these children’s lack of swimming experience. For every child who dies from drowning, another eight receive emergency department care for non-fatal drowning. Drowning injuries can cause brain damage and long-term injury, decreasing a lifetime of mobility.
Nationally, the Y is committed to reducing water-related injuries, particularly in communities where children are most at risk. Our “Safety Around Water” program is focused on engaging parents on the importance of water safety skills and providing more children with safety lessons. At the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas, we are sharing this program again this year with our community and the people that we serve. Last year, we taught more than 4,000 people how to be safe in and around water with programs such as Second Grade Learn to Swim, swim lessons, and lifeguard certifications. We highlight these safety skills and risks during Water Safety Month in May, but we advocate good water safety year-round.
Here are four tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer swimming experience for swimmers of all ages:
Never swim alone or without a water watcher. Children should be actively supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Children should only swim where a lifeguard is on duty, or a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions. Adults, especially inexperienced swimmers, should utilize the buddy system when going into the water.
Children should be supervised whenever they’re in or near water. Whether it is bath time or taking a dip in a pool or lake, children should be within the arm’s reach of an adult at all times.
Coast Guard-approved life jackets should be worn by inexperienced or non-swimmers; this includes children and adults. Life jackets can prevent drowning during water activities, especially boating and swimming. The U.S. Coast Guard reported 613 boating-related deaths in 2019 — 79% of these deaths were drowning-related, and of those who died from drowning, 86% were not wearing life jackets.
Leave the lifesaving to the experts. Your natural instincts might be to jump in the water to save a struggling swimmer, but a panicked person can easily overpower them and pull you under the water as well. Call (or yell!) for help instead.
In the greater Peninsula and Hampton Roads area, we have more than 10,000 miles of water-facing shoreline. Our proximity to a wide variety of swimming opportunities offers a high quality of life, but we must be vigilant to minimize the potential risks. At the YMCA of the Peninsulas, we strive to combine the joy of living in such a beautiful area with potentially life-saving swim safety tips and a wide variety of swim lesson opportunities. Please join us as we strive to keep our children safe while learning the same lessons as adults.
Adam Klutts is the president and CEO of the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas and started his career with the Y more than 25 years ago as a lifeguard.