YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth
Water Safety
71% of the World is Water
Children Are 100% Curious
Teaching children how to be safe around water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The Y’s numerous water safety efforts ensure that youth in our service area learn essential water safety skills, which can open up a world of possibilities for them to satisfy their curiosity safely.
We’re taking a stand against drowning in our community and below are some of the ways we are working to make a difference locally.
School Age Swim Lesson Pilot in Partnership with Cook Children’s
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is excited to partner with Cook Children’s, Fort Worth ISD and Uplift Mighty to offer free swim lessons to first graders attending the Leadership Academy at Mitchell Boulevard and Uplift Mighty. Learning water safety skills is critical for children and this partnership allows that student education to happen as part of the curriculum during the school day.
Safety Around Water Program
This program is currently offered at various apartment complexes in and around Fort Worth. Our Y staff go directly to children in need of learning life-saving water safety skills and hold swim lessons in local apartment pools.
Dry Land Safety Around Water Program
With our Dry Land Safety Around Water program, we partner with elementary schools to teach the importance of Safety Around Water during PE classes. Students are taught concepts like “Reach, Throw, Don’t Go”, “Yell, Go Tell”, “Stop, Look, Listen”, “Who’s watching me?”, the importance of lifejackets and how to get help if there is a crisis. These topics help teach kids how to be safe around the water and what to do in case of an emergency.
Go For Green Swim Lessons
Any YMCA day camp participant will also receive a swim test while they are in our care. If a day camper doesn’t initially pass the swim test we offer lessons during their day camp week so they can Go for Green!
We are always looking for ways to expand our water safety partnerships. If you are interested in partnering or learning more information please reach out to us at [email protected].
Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition
The Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition (FWDPC) provides low cost water safety education courses to families in the Fort Worth area. Go to www.fwdpc.org to learn more about how you can safe guard your family through practical in water skills, the basics of CPR, and properly fitted life vests. Together, we can prevent drownings in our community.
Help Keep Children Safe Around Water
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. Learn more about our swim lesson offerings here.
NORTH TEXAS YMCAs COMMIT TO ELIMINATE CHILDHOOD DROWNING
The Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington YMCAs partnered with NBC5 to enhance education around water safety. Watch the following news stories to learn how you can keep your family safe around water this summer.
YMCA Sets Goal of Eliminating Childhood Drowning
YMCA Warning Swimmers to Wear Life Jackets in Lakes & Rivers
YMCA Program Helps Special Needs Children Find Joy in the Water
YMCA's Safety Around Water Program Aims to End Drowning Disparities
Adults Learning to Swim Past Age 50: ‘It's Never Too Late to Learn'
Viviendo al Máximo: Consejos y recursos para evitar ahogamientos
Three North Texas YMCA presidents say now is the time think about how to protect our children around water
Drowning is the second leading cause of death of preschoolers, second only to birth defects. That statistic, along with so many other sobering ones — like a residential pool is 14 times more likely to the take the life of a child than an automobile and minority children are three times more likely to drown — have made us come together and say we must do something to reverse these trends. That’s why the YMCAs of North Texas (Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington-Mansfield area) are committing today to eliminate childhood drowning in kids 4 and under.