At the YMCA of the Fox Cities, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident and safe in and around the water. As the summer heats up and families head to pools, lakes and beaches - water safety is becoming more important than ever. That’s why the Y is committed to teaching lifesaving swimming skills to every age because drowning is preventable, and knowledge is power.
How we can Prevent Drowning
The YMCA’s summer water safety campaign, “Phones Down, Eyes Up,” reminds us that tasks like responding to a text, answering an email, listening to a podcast or making a grocery list may seem quick and harmless - but those few seconds of distraction can add up. Distractions around water can lead to serious, even fatal, consequences. In fact, 88% of children who drown have at least one adult present. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Take the pledge to be a water watcher and put the phone away when you are at the pool.
The Y promotes the following 5 Layers of Protection to keep everyone safe at the pool:
- Barriers and Alarms: This layer emphasizes creating physical barriers (fences, gates, covers) around pools and other bodies of water to prevent unsupervised access. Alarms, both visual and audible, are also crucial for alerting you to potential issues.
- Supervision: Constant, active and designated adult supervision is vital, especially around children. This means focusing on the water, avoiding distractions and ensuring children are always within arm's reach.
- Water Competency: Learning to swim and developing water safety skills, including basic skills like floating and treading water, are crucial for both children and adults.
- Life Jackets:Using U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, especially in open water or for weaker swimmers, provides a critical safety net.
- Emergency Preparation: Having a plan in place for emergencies, including knowing CPR, rescue techniques and knowing how to call 911 is essential.
Swim Lessons for Every Age and Stage
Whether your child is just starting to splash or ready to refine their strokes, the Y’s swim programs are designed to grow with them. Our certified instructors create a safe, supportive environment where you build skills, confidence and a lifelong love of the water.
Swim Starters (Ages 6 months – 3 years) - Helps children ages six months to three years old develop swim readiness skills through fun experiences that build confidence. In addition, parents learn how to supervise children in the water, prevent accidents and plan for emergencies.
Swim Basics (All Ages) - Enables students of all ages to gain basic water safety and swimming skills. Swimmers become comfortable and confident in the water through practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration and learning how to swim to if they fall into a body of water.
Swim Strokes (All Ages) - Introduces and refines stroke techniques in older swimmers (school-age, teens and adults). Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke techniques, developing skills that can help prevent chronic disease, increase overall well-being and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
The YMCA also offers a community water safety program called Safety Around Water. Safety Around Water consists of eight lessons designed to teach kids water safety skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and build their skills and confidence in and around the water.
Safety Around Water Includes:
- Exercises to help kids adjust to being in the water.
- Instructions in two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water: Jump, Push, Turn, Grab, Float and Swim.
- Safety topics such as what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help.
- Fun activities that reinforce these skills.
This program is offered, free of charge, to third grade students in local schools. Schools can request this program as a unit for their students by contacting our YMCA Aquatic Departments.
Why It Matters
At the YMCA, we believe everyone should feel safe in and around the water. That’s why we teach more than just swimming; we teach safety, confidence and community. Our programs are about more than strokes and splashes; they’re about giving families peace of mind and kids the tools they need to stay safe. Our swimming programs are open to all ages because it’s never too late to learn. Whether you’re a parent who never learned to swim or a grandparent who wants to keep up with the grandkids, we’re here for you.
Find the Right Class for You
With multiple stages of swimming classes available, there’s something for everyone at the YMCA of the Fox Cities. From beginners to advanced swimmers, we’re here to help you or your child feel confident and capable in the water.
Together, We Can Prevent Drowning
The Y introduced the country to group swimming lessons over 110 years ago in 1909. Now, as one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, we teach more than a million children, especially those most at-risk of drowning, invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year. Water safety is a community effort and at the Y we’re proud to lead the way. By enrolling in swimming lessons, you’re not just signing up for a class. You’re joining a movement to make our neighborhoods safer, stronger and more connected.
So, this summer, make a splash that matters. Join us at the YMCA of the Fox Cities and help us build a safer, healthier future - one swimmer at a time.