Y offers FREE community swim safety lessons for kids, May 21-22

Swim lessons The Y is the largest operator of swimming pools in the United States, with more than 2,200 pools. With those numbers come a responsibility to ensure that kids are safe around water.

On May 21 and May 22, the Y of Greater Cleveland will once again be offering FREE community swim safety classes for boys and girls
ages 5-12 at each full-service branch.

Classes are open to all regardless of membership. Parents of kids who do not know how to swim are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this free public offering.

During the 2-hour classes, kids will overcome fears and learn water safety. They will be taught basic swimming skills and rescue techniques as well as pool, beach, waterpark, diving, and boating safety.

Each lesson also includes elements emphasizing the Y’s four core values of honesty, responsibility, caring and respect. Many locations will offer free family swims following the class sessions, and informational handouts will be available for parents.

PLUS, coupons for discounted swim lessons at the Y will be given to all kids who complete the SPLASH course. Non-members will receive half-off the non-member rate for swimming lessons, while members will receive a coupon for $5 off the member rate for swimming lessons. Non-members who decide to join the Y between May 20-22 will also receive half off the joiner fee.

Pre-registration for SPLASH is required. Download the Registration Form here.

CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Branch Location	Sat., May 21	Sun., May 22
Downtown Branch 2200 Prospect Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115 (216) 344-0095	10 a.m. to Noon	10 a.m. to Noon
Euclid Family Branch 631 Babbitt Road Euclid, OH 44123 (216) 731-7454	Noon to 2 p.m	2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Geauga Cty. Branch 12460 Bass Lake Road Chardon, OH 44024 (440) 285-7543	Noon to 2 p.m.	2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hillcrest Branch 5000 Mayfield Rd. Lyndhurst, OH 44124 (216) 382-4300	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Noon to 2 p.m.
Lakewood Branch 16915 Detroit Avenue Lakewood, OH 44107 (216) 521-8400	Noon to 2 p.m.	Noon to 2 p.m.
Ridgewood Branch 6840 Ridge Road Parma, OH 44129 (440) 842-5200	1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.	1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Southeast Branch 460 Northﬁeld Road Bedford, OH 44146 (216) 663-7522	2 p.m. to 4 p.m.	3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
West Park Branch 15501 Lorain Road Cleveland, OH 44111 (216) 941-5410	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
West Shore Branch 1575 Columbia Road Westlake, OH 44145 (440) 871-6885	2 p.m. to 4 p.m.	2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Y Swimming Facts

Tens of millions of people across the United States have learned how to swim at the YMCA, including Olympic Gold Medallists Cullen Jones and Ian Crocker, as well as former President Ronald Reagan.
Swimming is a life-long skill with many health benefits that helps people stay active, be healthy and have fun together or by themselves.
Ys offer swim lessons for all ages, family swim, competitive swimming and diving teams, and many kinds of adaptive swim programs to meet the diverse and unique needs of kids and adults.

Water Safety Tips

Only swim when and where there is lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.
Adults should constantly watch children in and near the water. If multiple adults are in the vicinity, designate a “water watcher” so everyone knows who is “on duty.”
Inexperienced swimmers should take precaution and wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device when in, on or around the water.
Children who are beginners should stay within arm's reach of an adult in the water.

Water Safety Statistics

According to the CDC, fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.
According to a USA Swimming study, nearly 60 percent of African-American and Hispanic/Latino children do not know how to swim, nearly twice as many as their Caucasian peers.
In addition, African-American and Hispanic/Latino children are six times more likely to come from a family in which neither parent nor child can swim.
In these families, 91 percent of African-American children will not learn how to swim, compared to nearly 70 percent of Caucasian and Hispanic/Latino children.