HOUSTON – The start of summer is just around the corner and as families begin hitting the pools and the beach, the YMCA of Greater Houston is working to educate them on water safety. In Texas, an average of 70 children drown each year. For every child that drowns, an estimated 14 children visit emergency departments due to submersion injuries. It is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages one to four.
The YMCA of Greater Houston is working to inform children and families in order to eliminate drownings. This summer the Brenda and John Duncan YMCA is partnering with Platinum Pools to launch the Water Wise program in the Spring Branch Community.
Owner, Scott Waldo, believes in the importance of teaching kids how to swim, especially in low income communities.
YMCA Water Wise is a multi-faceted awareness program that provides free swim lessons at area apartment communities in targeted, low-income communities. The grant from Platinum Pools will allow us to reach over 600 kids this summer. Educating children and families about water safety is the only way to prevent drownings.
Important statistics from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services:
- 82 kids drowned in Texas in 2013
- 15 of those children were in Harris County; the highest rate of any county
- Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for kids under the age of five and toddlers are especially at risk
- Drowning can happen in almost any amount of water, indoors or outdoors
To find out more about YMCA Water Wise, contact Gina Martinez Peterson at 713-467-9622; gina.peterson@ymcahouston.org or visit ymcahouston.org
