YMCA Urges Swim Safety for Children

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Did you know that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 through 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 – 14. About 300 people drown each year in Texas. For each child who drowns, it is estimated that four children are hospitalized for near-drowning.

As the end of school approaches, swim season is kicking off with kids and families celebrating in their backyard pools and neighborhood pools. YMCAs urge swim safety for children. The YMCA has outlined several important precautionary measures that should be taken to ensure children’s safety around water:

• Create layers of protection between the water and your children: Proper fencing and gates around pools, sturdy pool coverings, install alarms on doors and windows that lead to the pool and have rescue equipment mounted by the pool.

• Proper parental or adult supervision at all times. Stress the importance of never swimming alone

• Swim safety lessons for all children who will be exposed to water.

• Learn to swim: If you get tired, knowing that you can turn over and float on your back to catch a breath, may mean the difference between life and death.

• Let someone know when you are going to swim

• Never swim in a pool that you cannot see the bottom

• Posting and enforcement of pool rules

• Be ready for an emergency; have the proper water rescue devices, a first-aid preparedness kit and be able to perform CPR. Never try to go into the water to save someone. Use something that you can reach the victim with like a noodle, pool buoy, pole etc.

• Have phone access near the water area.

The South Montgomery County YMCA offers swim lessons year round: The last spring session runs May 5th thru May 29th. The Summer Swim Program begins June 9th. Offered in 2 week sessions throughout the summer, classes available include Parent/Child for ages 6 – 36 months, Pre-School for ages 3 – 5 years and Youth for children ages 6 years and older.

The YMCA also has classes available for adults and seniors. Weekday Morning and evening classes are available as well as Saturday morning classes for youth. For those swimmers who need individual attention, private lessons are available.

Swimming is a life skill that all children should have the chance to learn. The YMCA strives to turn no one away for the inability to pay. Financial assistance is available to families that substantiate a need based on available resources. The YMCA is committed to providing programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for everyone.

For more information on Y Swim Lessons and other YMCA Classic Summer Fun programs, please call the South Montgomery County YMCAs in The Woodlands at 281-367-9622 or log on to the YMCA's Web site. For more information on water safety, please visit the Web site below.