May Is National Water Safety Month: Here Is What Families in Our Region Should Know

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NEWTOWN, PA — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidental drowning claims approximately 4,000 lives in the United States every year (about 11 deaths per day), and emergency rooms treat nearly 8,000 additional patients annually for nonfatal drowning injuries. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, and the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5 to 14. These numbers are sobering, but the vast majority of drowning deaths are preventable. Swim education, active adult supervision, proper barriers around backyard pools, the use of life jackets in open water, and the simple habit of swimming with a buddy are all effective, accessible ways to dramatically reduce risk.

National Water Safety Month has grown steadily since the World Waterpark Association launched a water safety awareness week in 2003, eventually expanding into the full month-long campaign recognized today. It is now coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance with support from the American Red Cross, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the National Recreation and Park Association, and it reaches millions of families each year through educational programming, public service announcements, and state-level proclamations. In 2026, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey formally recognized May as National Water Safety Month, joining a national movement that treats drowning prevention not as a seasonal afterthought, but as a year-round public health priority.

One of the most impactful things a family can do this month is enroll children in swim instruction. Children as young as one year old can begin learning water survival skills, and research supports the earlier the better. River Crossing YMCA offers group and private swim lessons for all ages at branches across the region, including Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton, Nazareth, Quakertown, Warminster, Pen Argyl (Slate Belt branch), and Fairless Hills in Pennsylvania, as well as the Deer Path branch in Flemington, New Jersey. During summer months, swim lessons are also available at the Holland Outdoor and SOLECO pool locations.

YMCA summer camps across Bucks, Hunterdon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties incorporate swim programs in a structured, supervised, and fun environment. Financial assistance is available to families who qualify, because the Y's mission is to make these life-saving skills accessible to everyone. Enrolling your child in swim lessons or summer camp is not just a summer activity. It is one of the most concrete investments you can make in their long-term safety and confidence around water.

In January 2026, the state of NJ enacted a new law requiring the Department of Children and Families to collaborate with water safety organizations, including the American Red Cross, to develop a drowning prevention fact sheet for annual distribution through schools. School districts across the state are now also required to publish lists of local swimming lessons and age-appropriate water safety courses on their websites, with an emphasis on free and reduced-cost options. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Shapiro’s proclamation echoes the same commitment, reinforcing that families in the Lehigh Valley, Bucks County, and across the Commonwealth have every reason to treat May as a moment to take stock of their own water safety practices. This article by the YMCA’s Nicle Bandura shares more tips about keeping children and families safe around water, wherever you plan to enjoy the sunshine.

River Crossing YMCA (formerly YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties and Greater Valley YMCA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through membership and programs that foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for all. Annually, the Y serves over 142,000 members and participants at its 11 member branches, 12 early childhood centers, 20 summer camp locations and 44 school age child care programs. River Crossing YMCA provides over $12 million of community impact annually in the form of financial assistance to individuals and families in need and free programming for veterans, cancer survivors, older adults and more. To learn more visit ymcarivercrossing.org.

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