by Claudia Morlan, YMCA of Metro Denver
Senior Director of Communications
“The reason I became a lifeguard is water safety,” said Bryan Castellano Pineda, a part-time lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA of Metro Denver. Pineda reflects on a near drowning his brother experienced when they were kids, and he recalls “I want to prevent things like this from happening.”
May is National Water Safety Month and as we approach Memorial Day and the start of summer fun, safety in and around the water should be on the list of basic life skills to keep children healthy.
Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. The problem is particularly acute among minority communities. For example, African American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their white counterparts. Additionally, 79 percent of children in families with household income less than $50,000 have no/low swimming ability.
During summertime and year-round, the YMCA offers these water safety tips and resources:
Be aware. When swimming, parents are urged to get in the water with their young children and stay within arm’s reach. Children who are old enough to swim on their own should be actively watched and should swim only when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Parents can also have their children “tested” by the lifeguard to ensure they have basic swimming skills and can swim strong independently.
Review and follow pool rules. Children should understand and follow pool rules and lifeguard orders. In addition, they should know their abilities and limits and be taught not to take chances with going in too deep or playing breath-holding games.
Take swim lessons. Research shows that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children 1 to 4 years of age. Swim lessons teach participants how to tread water, move in the water, and do basic strokes, building skills and confidence that can be the difference between life and death. The YMCA offers swim lessons at outdoor community pools across the metro area and at our University Hills, Littleton, Southwest and Arvada YMCAs.
If children know how to stay safe in and around water, swimming can be a lifelong source of fun and exercise. Don’t keep your children away from water but help them learn fundamental water safety skills. Classes can provide a new, exciting way to keep active and meet new friends.
Learn about the YMCA’s Aquatics Program at www.denverymca.org.