Free Safety Around Water Program at Sussex County YMCA

HARDYSTON — The Sussex County YMCA will offer free Safety Around Water classes June 25 to 29 with support of a USA Swimming Foundation grant.
The YMCA will use the funding to teach basic swimming skills to children and adults who have little or no swimming experience.
“Swimming is both a life skill and a life-saving skill,” says Sarah Navarro, Sussex County YMCA aquatic director.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Sixty-four percent of African-American children and 45 percent of Latino children do not have the basic swimming skills to keep them safe around water, according to USA Swimming Foundation research.
The YMCA works closely with other community organizations, including school districts, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, houses of worship, recreation departments, police departments, and fire and rescue squads, to get word out about the Safety Around Water program. The YMCA has been providing water safety lessons for more than 20 years.
The free lesson will be taught by certified swim instructors, with a ratio of six students per instructor. Participants will do exercises in the pool to adjust to the water and learn what to do if they unexpectedly find themselves in water. They’ll learn pool rules and take part in games that encourage comfort and activity around water.
For more information call 973-209-9622 or visit sussexcountyymca.org.