YMCA Brings Water Safety Classes to Area Apartment Complexes

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children ages 1 to 4. Last year alone, nine youth under the age of 18 drowned in and around Fort Worth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most drownings happen in home swimming pools, but apartment complex pools can also be a safety hazard.

To help keep kids safe, the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is offering free swimming lessons at 40 Tarrant County apartment complexes. The first 20 sessions will be held May 30 to June 22 and the second 20 from June 26 to July 28. The lessons are designed to teach children and their caregivers how to stay safe in and around water. The YMCA still has openings for apartment complexes interested in signing up to offer this free program to their residents.

“About 60% of childhood drowning incidents occur within 10 feet of safety and almost 90% of them happen under some form of supervision,” said Leah LeMaire, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth’s association director of aquatics. “Teaching children how to swim and be safe around water are important life skills. Even if a child can swim, parents and caregivers must also always be on high alert.”

Drowning is silent, LeMaire said, and the key to water safety is never letting down your guard. Even two seconds of inattention is long enough to have disastrous consequences. She offers these tips to keep kids safe in and around water.

• Stay off cell phones.
• Always keep children under active supervision.
• Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult.
• Make sure older children swim with a partner every time.
• Designate a responsible person to watch the water when people are in the pool; never allow anyone to swim alone.
• Trade off water watcher duties every 10 to 15 minutes.
• Have young or inexperienced swimmers wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. Arm floaties and other devices can easily fail.
• Surround your backyard pool with a secure fence with childproof locks.
• Keep pool gates locked at all times.
• Learn CPR and first aid.

LeMaire added that it’s important not to jump in to save someone who is struggling, unless you are a trained lifeguard, as you will likely be pulled underwater yourself. Teach children “Reach, Throw, Don’t Go” and demonstrate how to use a noodle or ring buoy to pull someone to safety.

The YMCA is also partnering with the Fort Worth Drowning Coalition to provide two-week swim lesson sessions for $10 throughout the summer at McDonald YMCA, Camp Carter YMCA and Ryan YMCA.

For more information about water safety lessons and other swim safety tips, go to https://ymcafw.org/programs/water-safety.