YMCA Tips to Keep Kids and Families Safe Around Water
YMCA of the Jersey Shore is emphasizing the importance of water safety and urging families and guardians to enroll their children in life-saving swim lessons.
“We know that teaching children how to swim and be safe around water reduces the risk of drowning,” said Laurie Goganzer, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of the Jersey Shore. “We consider our programs vital to keeping children and people of all ages safe in and around all bodies of water, whether at the ocean, a lake or a pool.”
Nicknamed “America’s swim instructor,” the Y teaches more than 1 million children water safety and swimming skills every year. Locally, YMCA of the Jersey Shore offers a variety of aquatics programs throughout the year, including swim lessons for infants as young as six months and up to adults. The Y also offers family swim time and competitive swimming.
The YMCA suggests five tips to keep children safe at beaches, lakes and pools:
- Buddy Up — Never allow children to swim alone and teach them to use the buddy system, even at public pools, lakes, or beaches with lifeguards.
- Lifeguards on Duty — Always swim where lifeguards are on duty and only allow children to swim in designated guarded areas.
- Provide Adult Supervision — Adults should constantly and actively watch children in and around the water, even when lifeguards are present. If children can’t swim, always keep them within an arm’s reach.
- Wear a Life Jacket — Inexperienced swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket in and around water.
- No Breath Holding — Children should not hold their breath for prolonged periods while swimming. This can cause drowning and can have other severe side effects.
As part of its commitment to social responsibility, Goganzer noted, the Y has long offered community outreach programs to increase water safety instruction in less-served communities. Third-graders in Red Bank, Long Branch and Old Bridge receive free swim lessons that help prepare them for a fun and safe summer around water.
For more information about Y membership, financial assistance, swim lessons, programs, volunteering or donating, visit ymcanj.org.
The YMCA of the Jersey Shore is a cause-driven nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Based in Shrewsbury, NJ, we serve 42,000 people annually in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. From lifesaving swim lessons and child care to mental health support and chronic disease prevention, we offer programs that uplift people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. With a legacy of more than 150 years of service, we’re proud to be named a USA Today Top Workplace for 2025 and Top Workplace in New Jersey 2022-2025 by NJ Advance Media.
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