Water Safety Tips

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14, with children from communities of color at the greatest risk. With Summer upon us, now is a great time for parents to remember the importance of ensuring their children are equipped with essential water safety skills. The Y offers swim lessons and safety around water programs that helps reduce the risk of childhood drowning, develop a lifelong love swimming and educates children about the importance of being safe around the water. 

Before letting your children hit the water this summer, remember these few tips to ensure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience.

1. Never swim alone. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty.

2. Teach children to tell you when they are going to go in or near water.

3. Supervise your children whenever they’re in the water. Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or lake, make sure your children are within arm’s reach of you at all times.

4. Designate a "Water Watcher" which is an adult who agrees to take a 20-minute shift to watch children in the water with NO distractions.

5. Don’t engage in breath holding activities. Children shouldn’t hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can cause drowning and has several other severe physical side-effects.

6. Wear a Life Jacket: Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. 

7. .Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If a child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try to save them. Even if a child is a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling them underwater with them. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique children can help their friend without compromising their own safety.

8. Enroll your children in water safety or swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before they cross the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. The Y’s Safety Around Water and Swim Lesson programs teach children fundamental water safety skills and what to do if they find themselves in water unexpectedly.

Learning how to swim also has multiple benefits beyond the ability to enjoy water safely. It helps children strive for physical achievement, promotes healthy living and builds their confidence. To find out how to enroll your child in the MetroWest Y’s swim lessons visit metrowestymca.org/swimlessons

More About the Safety Around Water Course

The Y Safety Around Water program teaches kids and their families water safety skills to prevent drowning. It is typically delivered in eight lessons.  The program builds upon individual skills to create two core skill sequences to help children be safe in and around water: swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, and grab.

Swim, float, swim. In this skill sequence, children swim a short distance on their front, turn to their back to float, then turn to their front to continue swimming, if they are able. Children may choose to stay in a back float. Rolling onto their back periodically allows them to rest and breathe. The sequence helps children stay afloat until someone arrives to help them or they are able to get to safety using the combined skills.

Jump, push, turn, grab. In this skill sequence, a child jumps into the water, pushes off the bottom, turns around to face the wall, grabs the wall, and safely exits the pool. The sequence simulates the experience children have if they are submerged in water unexpectedly. After learning the sequence, children have the skills to get back to the side of the pool or to safety.

Research has shown that participation in formal swimming instruction can prevent drowning. The Y is the nation’s leading provider of community-based swim lessons. With more than 1 million children participating in swim lessons, and with more than 2,700 locations in 10,000 communities, the Y is one of the few organizations in the country positioned to bridge the gap between the delivery of swim lessons and water safety education in the United States. We can help kids and families learn to be safe in and around water. 

For more information about when the next Safety Around Water class will be offered, contact Sahara Adams at sadams@metrowestymca.org or 508-879-4420 X 287