YMCA hosts Water Safety Week

More than 250 enthusiastic participants from 6 months old through adult took part in the 14th annual Water Safety Week at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth April 22-26, when safety around water and fun were the key goals of the staff and volunteers. The participants learned that water activities should be fun, not feared as long as they know how to stay safe in and around water. They learned many important skills while enjoying swimming activities.

Statistics show two children die every day from drowning. It is the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-14, and since there are 260 square miles of water in Sussex County, it is even more important for local families to take advantage of this free service.

YMCA Aquatics Program Director Tracey Condon-Kneifl, a 2001 Cape graduate, led more than 25 volunteers from the YMCA swim team and water fitness community as attendees were taught how to float, enter and exit the pool, and practice strokes and techniques for water safety.

“Swim team members gave up their spring break to help teach the participants how to be safe around the water,” said Condon-Kneifl. “We couldn’t do this program without the volunteers who give one-on-one attention to the youngsters.”

The Y is America’s Swim Instructor, where more than 1 million youngsters take swimming lessons every year at YMCAs nationwide. The YMCA is the most accessible resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming.

Groups taking part in the free event were The Rosa Health Center from Georgetown, Rehoboth Beach Boys & Girls Club, First State Community Action Agency and Autism Delaware, which took part for the first time.

According to the American Journal of Public Health, people with autism are 40 times more likely to die from a preventable injury. The top three injuries are suffocation, asphyxiation and drowning. This accounts for 80 percent of all preventable-injury deaths; 46 percent of children who died from a preventable injury drowned. This makes them 160 times more likely to die from drowning than a typical person.

The YMCA staff and volunteers receive special training to work with autistic children and teach them later in the day in a more conducive environment for their needs.

The sponsors for the event were U.S. Masters Swimming, Beebe Medical Foundation and SoDel Cares Foundation.

For more information, call 302-510-1270 or go to www.ymcade.org/sussex.