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According to data from the USA Swimming Foundation, 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim, compared to just 40 percent of Caucasian children.
While fatal drowning is a concern for all children – it’s the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years old – African-American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their white counterparts.
Through Safety Around Water, parents and caregivers will be encouraged to help their children learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills.
During the course, children will learn how to respond if they find themselves in unexpected water situations -- from how to reach the water’s surface if they submerge to safely reaching a pool’s edge or exiting any body of water.
“All children deserve access to water safety resources and Safety Around Water is a great starting point to not only get kids comfortable in the water, but also develop a love of swimming,” said David Stevenson, Central Connecticut Coast YMCA President and chief executive officer. “In many communities, staying safe around water means keeping kids away from water, but water safety and swimming are important life skills that need fostering in all children.”
The Central Connecticut Coast Y taught 8,975 children water safety and swimming in 2015.
The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA is a charitable, not-for-profit, community service organization that serves 24 towns and cities in the Greater Bridgeport and New Haven areas.
Families interested in learning more about Safety Around Water and how to enroll their child in local Y swimming and water safety classes can click here or call 203-334-5551.
The Bridgeport YMCA is at 850 Park Ave.
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