Submitted News Release
There is a list of basic life skills all parents instinctively know they must teach their children to keep them safe and healthy. It includes habits like looking both ways before you cross the street, washing your hands with soap and water and eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day.
For too many parents, safety in and around water is not on the list; and that’s something we need to change.
Fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years old. Last year, 14 children died in Georgia due to drowning. This disparity is partly due to the lack of swimming experience among children and adults.
The Bainbridge Decatur-County YMCA is committed to reducing water-related injuries, particularly in communities where children and adults are most at risk. During National Water Safety Month this May, the Y is introducing Safety Around Water, a program to engage parents and children about the importance of water safety skills and provide more children access to water safety lessons.
As part of the program, the Bainbridge Decatur-County YMCA provides free group swim lessons to Y members and non-members pay $45 for group swim lessons. The lessons meet twice a week for 4 weeks and help teach young people valuable skills like what to do if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly, a situation every child and adult should be equipped to handle.
These classes are just one of the many swim programs that hundreds of people from toddlers to adults take advantage of at the Y’s pool. Here in Bainbridge the Y teaches year round swim lessons for children and adults each year. Through “Safety Around Water,” the Y hopes to further bridge cultural and access gaps that can prevent some children from learning important water safety skills.
If you know how to stay safe in and around water, swimming can be a lifelong source of fun and exercise. Instead of keeping your children away from water, help them learn fundamental water safety skills by enrolling them in lessons. These classes can provide them a new, exciting way to keep active and meet new friends.
To learn more about the Y’s Safety Around Water program/ Swim Lessons, please Contact
Jennifer M. Clements, Aquatics Coordinator
Jennifermclements82@gmail.com or 229-243-0508
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