Aquatic Safety

At the YMCA, we believe that keeping children safe around water is a necessity, not a luxury. Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water and is the second leading cause of accidental death in children.

In addition to traditional swim lessons, CT & RI YMCAs offer a national YMCA program called Safety Around Water – at no charge for participants. The goals of Safety Around Water are:

This course is taught by a certified instructor who 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 the 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.

In addition to traditional swim lessons, CT YMCAs offer a national YMCA program called Safety Around Water – at no charge for participants. The goals of Safety Around Water are:

This course is taught by a certified instructor who 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 the 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.