Impacting Lives Through Drowning Prevention
Our service area consists of 989 square miles of water. This does not consider the number of pools our children have access to.
Water Safety by the Numbers
- Three kids die every day from drowning
- Drowning is the second leading cause of death for kids ages 5-14
- Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children in the state of Virginia
- For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries
- Children ages 5-14 most often drown in swimming pools and open water
- 58% of parents do not consider drowning a threat to their children
- 88% of kids who drown do so under parental supervision
- 60% of kids who drown do so within 10 feet of safety
To help reduce these dreadful statistics, the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas' Endowment Fund has pledged to offer free water safety classes for all second graders in our service area—over 7,000-second graders. All YMCAs of the Virginia Peninsulas, even those without pools, offer the Safety Around Water swim program. We work with schools and school systems to ensure that all second graders have the opportunity to learn to swim. Contact your local Y to get your school involved.
Teaching children to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them how to cross the street properly. As an organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for all, the Y has committed to teaching free water safety classes for every second grader every year. This mission program is funded through the YMCA Endowment Fund.
Check out Michael's incredible story below to hear how our second-grade swim program is helping kids stay safe.
In Safety Around Water, Children Learn:
Water Safety Basics: Before entering the water, children learn the basics of water safety, the dangers, and how to avoid them.
Jump-Push-Turn-Grab: Jump-push-turn-grab teaches children to push off the bottom of the pool as they submerge to get back up to the surface while turning to grab the side of the pool.
Swim-Float-Swim: Swim-float-swim teaches children to swim a short distance on their front, roll over onto their back to rest, and then roll on their front to continue swimming to safety.
Water Safety Tips:
Support Second-Grade Learn to Swim
Consider donating today to support your area's second-grade learn-to-swim program. Your donations provide essential equipment and an opportunity for second graders in your local schools to learn life-saving skills.
