“There’s 10 drownings every single day” the reason YMCA, Doctors Hospital partnered for free swim lessons
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- The YMCA and Doctors Hospital have partnered to provide life-saving skills to children.
Swimming can be an activity that some look forward to. But, for others it can be pretty frightening.
“I brought them to swimming class ‘cause I always felt that a child– anybody, adult or child– should be able to learn how to swim…,” Beverly Riley said.
Beverly Riley signed her grandchildren up, because she says knowing how to swim is more than a splash in the water.
“There’s floods, there’s beaches, there’s a lot of things that have a lot of water, and if they know the basics of swimming, they’ll be able to save themselves or possibly somebody else.”
This is Safety Around Water week at all YMCA locations.
“We feel it’s very important that we do our part to prevent drownings in our area. There’s 10 drownings every single day and we know that those deaths are preventable. And so, if the Y can do our part to make sure that kids are safer around water, that’s what this program is all about,” COO of Family YMCA of Greater Augusta Catie McCauley said.
Doctors Hospital has a level two trauma center. Staff members say they have witnessed first-hand impacts a water incident can have on families.
“Children who are under the age of four, if they have had organized swim lessons, they’re 88% less likely to die in a drowning-related accident. So, we are really excited to have this partnership and to help some of these children learn how to swim,” CEO Doctors Hospital of Augusta Joanna Conley said.
Children from ages 3-12 are provided with free swim lessons all week long from 4:30- 8pm. These free services will last throughout the rest of the week.
For more information on swim lessons, contact your local YMCA.
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