NBC 6 South Florida has partnered up with the YMCA of South Florida for "Swim Week" to help provide drowning prevention tips, advice and stories.
Swim Week will be taking place April 18-22, 2016, on NBC 6. The initiative comes just ahead of May, which is National Water Safety Awareness Month.
From May 2-6, the YMCA will be offering FREE swimming lessons at local locations. Whether just learning to swim, improving strokes or taking water exercise classes, members are in safe hands with certified swimming instructors and lifeguards.
LOCATIONS:
Pembroke Pines
Aquatic & Program Center
1361 NW 129th Avenue
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
954-727-9622
Greater Hollywood
YMCA Family Center
3161 Taft Street
Hollywood, FL 33021
954-989-9622
Weston YMCA
Family Center
20201 Saddle Club Rd
Weston, FL 33327
954-424-9622
North Pointe
YMCA Family Center
7351 NW 186 Street
Miami, FL 33015
786-433-9622
Homestead YMCA
Family Center & Preschool
1034 NE 8 Street
Homestead, FL 33030
305-248-5189
Local
John Mullins
Aquatic Park*
2000 NW 55 Avenue
Lauderhill, FL 33313
LA Lee YMCA
Family Center*
408 NW 14 Terrace
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33311
954-467-2444
Lauderhill
Community YMCA*
1901 NW 49 Avenue
Lauderhill, FL 33313
754-322-3608
*For Swim Lessons at John Mullins Aquatic Park register at LA Lee YMCA Family Center or Lauderhill Community YMCA.
In addition, the YMCA is also promoting the concept of being a "water watcher." For full details on picking up a badge, click here.
Why are swimming skills so important?
- Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in Florida.
- Enough children in Florida drown each year to fill 4 classrooms.
- 3 children a day in the United States die from a drowning incident.
- From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2014, at least 174 children between the ages of 1 to 14 drowned in swimming pools or spas.
Having swimming skills could be the difference between life and death for you and your child.
Throughout Swim Week, NBC 6 will be highlighting the following stories:
- 4/18: A mother talks about losing her 12-year-old to drowning. She spearheaded Swim for Jenny, which provides funding/scholarships for swim lessons for kids.
- 4/19: A mother talks about losing her daughter to drowning. She is now devoted to educating parents on drowning prevention and how to protect your home pool.
- 4/20: The importance of adult swim lessons. An adult talks about why she decided to learn how to swim at the age of 39.
- 4/21: Dangerous Currents: NBC 6's Keith Jones, with the help of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, goes for a swim to demonstrate how calm bodies of water can quickly become deadly.
- 4/22: Mobile Aquatics Program. A YMCA employee talks about their mobile aquatics vans that bring swim lessons to apartment complexes and community pools. They bring the swim lessons to you!
