Free Second Grade Swim Initiative Returns in Spring

Central Bucks Family YMCA is proud to announce the upcoming evaluation dates for SECOND GRADE SWIM INITIATIVE for spring 2016. The program is their newest community initiative aimed at ensuring that local youth are safe in and around water by the time they leave second grade. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about ten people die from unintentional drowning each day. Of these, two are children age 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.

Central Bucks Family YMCA seeks to impact community statistics by providing water safety evaluations to local children on Sunday, April 10 from 6-7 pm OR Saturday, April 16 from 12:30-1:30 pm at 2500 Lower State Road, Doylestown. The program is free but pre-registration is required and can be done online (www.cbfymca.org) or in-person at the Y.

After evaluations, youth who require additional water safety training qualify for four free water safety lessons aimed at educating youth about how to be safe around water, in alignment with the Y-USA Safety Around Water program. During the classes, children will be taught how to be safety conscious around water, when to yell for help and how to paddle, tread and float. The water safety lessons will be offered on Sunday evenings, May 1, 8, 15, 22 from 6-7pm to selected, eligible students.

Identified students who participate in the safety training will also receive a temporary youth membership to the Y for May so that they can practice their swim skills. In addition to swim, the membership will allow the 2nd graders the opportunity to participate in free youth art and fitness classes and use the Y’s skatepark.

The program begins during the Y’s annual campaign, which raises funds for community impact programs like 2nd Grade Swim. Contributions toward this or other community programs are greatly appreciated.

The goal of the program is to ensure that all local children have the opportunity to learn about water dangers and safety. For information on the program, contact Ashley Coticchio at 215.348.8131, x1409.