SOUTH SHORE YMCA

Shining a Spotlight on Swim Safety at the South Shore YMCA

Posted: Jul. 18, 2018 Learn More

According to the Massachusetts Department of Health, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among children in the state. With so many of these injuries able to be prevented or avoided altogether with simple water safety education and training, the South Shore YMCA, and our water safety staff, are dedicated to ensuring each of the members of our community has the proper information, training and support to keep themselves safe wherever they choose to keep cool.

Over time, the YMCA has been nicknamed “America’s Swim Instructor,” and it’s a nickname that we take very seriously. We believe that every set of eyes and ears can make the difference in saving a life, which is why our commitment to water safety never waivers.

Each year, YMCA’s across the country teach more than a million children invaluable lessons about water safety and swimming skills. Through programs like Safety Around Water, we’re dedicated to making swimming part of the list of basic life skills in order to reduce and prevent water-related injuries.

Teaching parents about the importance of water safety skills and provides more children with access to water safety lessons. And with summer in full swing, now is the ideal time for both children and adults alike to brush up on essential water safety skills.

The SSYMCA is an award-winning American Red Cross training and certification class provider, training more individuals on life-saving water safety skills than any other facility in New England.

To help spread these good habits to the youngest members of our community, the South Shore YMCA’s Water Safety Education Initiative partners with local schools to offer free swim lessons to pre-k and kindergarten students. Schools in Quincy and Hanover are currently taking advantage of this program, and we expect to continue to expand so that other children may learn the basics of water safety.

In collaboration with New England Adaptive Sports and funded by the Mass Commission for the Blind, the SSYMCA is also developing swim programs for individuals under the age of 22 who are living with visual impairments. The SSYMCA Swim Academy Program is also under constant review in order to ensure that we’re best addressing all swimmers’ needs, no matter your age or ability level.

Whether you’re an adult or child, water safety doesn’t change. And neither does our commitment to it here at the South Shore YMCA.

To learn more about swim lessons and water safety education programming at the SSYMCA, visit ssymca.org/swim-lessons.

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About the South Shore YMCA:

The South Shore YMCA is a charity serving the communities of Quincy, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover and beyond. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA, visit www.ssymca.org.