SAFETY AROUND WATER
SAFETY AROUND WATER
Teaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program can help you make sure they learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them to satisfy their curiosity safely.
SAFETY AROUND WATER
Safety Around Water (SAW) is composed of eight 30-minute sessions to reduce the risk of drowning by giving children confidence in and around water. The program is geared for unintended entries into the water and safety. Our goal is that if a child falls in, they can swim, float swim, tread, and exit the water. The levels build on skill sequences to enable a child to help save themselves or tread/float long enough for help to arrive.
The SAW program is supported by the fundraising efforts of Y donors and grants in our community with the goal of saving lives through water safety education and swimming instruction.
You can help us prevent drowning! Please make a donation to support the YMCA Safety Around Water Program!
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
The program, taught by a certified instructor, teaches children two sets of skills that will reduce the risk of drowning and give them confidence in and around water. A typical session includes:
- Exercises to help children adjust to being in water
- Instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” two skill sets children can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water
- An activity that teaches children about specific safety topics such as pool rules and boating safety
- A fun game to encourage comfort and activity around water
Each lesson includes a handout for parents and caregivers with additional water safety tips.