Safety Around Water

The world is 71% water.
Children are 100% curious.

Drowning can happen nearly anywhere with standing water, but, as a parent or caregiver, you can’t keep your children sidelined.

You need to equip them with the tools they need to be confident in and around water so they don’t lose out on the health benefits of exercise, the opportunities to bond with family and friends, and the sense of accomplishment when they learn new skills. The Alleghany Highlands YMCA Safety Around Water Program is designed to engage and educate youth and parents about the importance of water safety skills and provide more of America’s youth access to water safety lessons. 

Through Safety Around Water, children and adults learn fundamental water safety and swimming skills and how to respond if they find themselves in unexpected water situations. This could include how to reach the water’s surface if they submerge, to safely reaching a pool’s edge, or exiting any body of water in addition to the basic strokes, proper breathing, and technique. 

Contact Operations Director, Thomas Smals, for more information.