About Safety Around Water

71% of the World is Water
Children Are 100% Curious

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. Through learning how to perform a sequenced set of skills through lessons, the risk of drowning is reduced, giving your child confidence in and around water.

SPONSOR A FAMILY IN NEED

By purchasing your 5-day session, the $5 will go directly back to a child or adult in need. THANK YOU!

Safety Around Water - Splash Week

Formerly known as Splash Week, Safety Around Water consists of a 5-day course, taught by a certified instructors. Safety Around Water principles can reduce the risk of drowning and give kids the confidence in and around water.

A typical session includes:

  • Exercises to help kids adjust to being in water
  • Instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water
  • Specific safety topics, like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help
  • Fun activities that reinforce skills 

Available Session Times

10:45am-11:40am
11:35am-12:30pm
2:30pm-3:25pm
3:30pm-4:25pm
4:20pm-5:15pm
5:00pm-5:55pm - Both Youth & Adult (18+) classes available

FAMILY FUN FRIDAY - The Y will have extended free swim for S.A.W. participants ONLY from 11am-1:30pm. Parents must accompany children. Swim attire required (no cotton).

Benefits of Safety Around Water

Safety Around Water gives children confidence in and around water by teaching boating safety, beach safety, backyard pool and regular pool safety, and a day of celebrating to practice skills and show off what they learned.

2016 STATISTICS

Face in Water: being able to comfortably submerge their faces in water.
PRE: 43%
POST: 94%

Back Float: being able to float on their backs.
PRE: 22%
POST: 83%

Tread Water: being able to stay afloat while vertical using just your arms and legs.
PRE: 28%
POST: 76%

Swim 10 Feet: being able to swim 10 feet with or without assistance. This is vital as 60% of youth drownings happen within 10 feet of safety.
PRE: 29%
POST: 81%

Reach, Throw, Do Not Go: refers to knowing that if someone is in trouble in the water, you are to reach something out to them, throw something to them that will float, but never go in after them. This is the cause of many double drownings.
PRE: 33%
POST: 100%