Drowning Prevention

KEEPING KIDS SAFE IN AND AROUND WATER

At the Y, we believe a child’s safety in and around water should never be left to chance. We’re determined to prevent childhood drowning by providing high-quality water safety instruction and swim lessons for all kids.
 

Continuing Our Legacy

The Y is “America’s Swim Instructor” and the most accessible community resource to not only prevent drowning, but also encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming. We first introduced the country to the concept of group swim lessons more than 100 years ago in 1909, and today we teach more than a million children invaluable water safety and swimming skills.
 

Teaching Water Safety to All

As one of the largest community-based organizations in the country, the Y is in a unique position to help bridge the gap in the delivery of swim lessons and water safety education in the U.S. — especially in underserved communities where the risk of drowning is greatest. In fact, research finds two primary factors for children not learning to swim: the parent’s ability and their attitude toward swimming, and the socio-economic conditions of the child’s community. At the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, we don’t just provide access to our programs and classes for those who request it, we go into underserved communities where there are often no lifeguards at community pools as an outreach to teach water safety skills.
 

Surviving and Thriving in Water

Through our Safety Around Water program and traditional swim lessons, we help ensure all kids have access to learn essential water safety skills and gain confidence in and around water. These Y programs open up a world of possibilities for children to safely enjoy and explore their curiosity for water.