As summer approaches and more families head to the pool, lake or beach, water safety becomes more important than ever. Our YMCA Aquatics Directors offer these simple but essential tips to help keep kids safe around water:
- Always ensure children swim under the supervision of a parent, lifeguard or another responsible adult. Kids should never swim alone.
- Remind children to always walk—never run—around the pool.
- Teach kids that if someone is in trouble in the water, they should never jump in to help. Instead, they should alert an adult or lifeguard and, if possible, throw a flotation device to the person in need.
- Children and adults should wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or when near open water.
- Follow all Pool rules posted in every YMCA of Greater Cleveland Pool Area.
Most importantly, everyone should know how to swim.
Thanks to several recent grants, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland is expanding access to life-saving swim lessons across our community. With more than $50,000 in funding from YMCA of the USA and the Ohio Alliance of YMCAs, we are able to provide free or reduced-cost swim safety education to children, families and adults—many of whom would not otherwise have access to these critical programs.
These investments are helping us reach more people than ever before, ensuring that individuals of all ages can gain the confidence and skills needed to stay safe in and around the water.
The Y is a national leader in aquatics and swim instruction, and lessons are available now at branches across our association. To learn more or to register, visit our Aquatics page.
If you’d like to contribute to help us bring swim lessons to more people, please visit our Give page.
Let’s work together to make this a safe and enjoyable summer for everyone.