With warmer weather nearing, local swim instructors stress that swimming skills are vital, highlighting drowning as a leading cause of death among young children.
MADISON, Ala. — Warm weather is approaching, and with it comes a reminder from local swim instructors that knowing how to swim is more than recreation. It could save a life.
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children under four, according to Gena Hayes, Aquatics Director at the Hogan Family YMCA.
“It is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under 14,” Hayes said. “So it is important for kids to have a healthy understanding of what can happen in the water, and know how to be safe in the water.”
Rayna, an Assistant General Manager at Goldfish Swim School, said swim education can begin earlier than many parents realize.
“We start teaching actual swim techniques as young as four months old here,” she said. “The sooner you start, the more comfortable they are going to be, and the better swimmers they will become.”
Rayna said the school focuses on foundational water safety skills from the start.
“We start with water safety basics. Learning to float on their back, learning to paddle, just general water conditioning. That is the foundation we use when we are teaching swim skills,” she said.
Hayes added that natural bodies of water present additional risks.
“Larger bodies of water, natural bodies of water are a little bit less predictable. They tend to be very opaque, hard to see through,” she said. “Make sure that your kids know how to swim and know how to be safe around water.”
Both instructors emphasized that swim education is not just for children. Adults who have never learned can still benefit.
“It is a great opportunity to learn how to swim and be comfortable around water so that you can also help your kids be comfortable around water,” Hayes said.
Hayes also urged parents to stay attentive when their children are near any body of water.
“We really encourage parents to keep their phones down, keep their books down, and keep their eyes on their own kid,” she said. “The best prevention is awareness and making sure that everybody is keeping their own family safe.”