Safety Around Water
WHAT IS SAFETY AROUND WATER (SAW)?
SAW is composed of eight 30-minute sessions to reduce the risk of drowning by giving children confidence in and around water. The program is geared for unintended entries into the water and safety. Our goal is that if a child falls in, they can swim, float swim, tread, and exit the water. The levels build on skill sequences to enable a child to help save themselves or tread/float long enough for help to arrive.
A TYPICAL SAFETY AROUND WATER SESSION INCLUDES:
- Exercises to help kids adjust to being in water
- Instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim,” two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water
- Specific safety topics like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help
- Fun activities that reinforce skills
ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, FLORIDA LOSES MORE CHILDREN UNDER AGE FIVE TO DROWNING THAT ANY OTHER STATE.
You can help us prevent drowning! Our goal is to provide Safety Around Water lessons to 5,000 at-risk children on the First Coast every year – regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Safety Around Water Free Swim Lessons
NEW BEDFORD
SARA WHITE
Aquatic Director
NEW BEDFORD YMCA
25 South Water Street,
New Bedford MA 02740
508.997.0734
swhite@ymcasc.org
www.ymcasc.org
GLEASON
Danielle Gilmore
Aquatics Director
GLEASON FAMILY YMCA
33 Charge Pond Road,
Wareham MA 02571
Office: 508.295.9622 x16
dgilmore@ymcasc.org
www.ymcasc.org
FALL RIVER
Jeremy Leal
Aquatics Director
Fall River YMCA
199 N. Main Street,
Fall River, MA 02720
508.675.7841 ext 125
tlamar@ymcasc.org
www.ymcasc.org