YMCA of Long Island Encourages Parents, Children to Take ‘Pool Safely Pledge’

The YMCA of Long Island, local provider of swim lessons, aquatics programs and lifeguard training, is encouraging Long Island parents and children to take the national “Pool Safely Pledge,” to be safe in and around the water this summer.

A campaign of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, and now in its fifth year, “Pool Safely” (www.poolsafely.gov) is a comprehensive pool safety program which includes safety tips and checklists for parents, along with a commitment by parents, caregivers and children to follow recommended safety guidelines designed to prevent  residential drowning and entrapment incidents.

‘Pool Safely’ is a perfect opportunity to reinforce basic water safety practices for parents, and to instill in children at an early age the importance of following these rules,” said YMCA of LI President and CEO Anne Brigis. “As a national partner with the US CPSC on this campaign, we encourage all of our members – and all Long Islanders with pools on their property – to take the pledge.”

The ‘Pool Safely’ Pledge (http://www.poolsafely.gov/pledge/) asks adults to commit to five water safety steps in and around their pools:

• Designate a water watcher every single time children in their care are in or near the water;
• Make sure children in their care know how to swim;
• Learn CPR;
• Remove or secure ladders in on ground pools when the pool is not in use;
• Ensure that all pools have a proper fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate, and safe drain covers.

Children can also sign an online pledge, in which they agree to never swim alone, and to ask their parent for swim lessons.

The YMCA of Long Island provides over 22,000 swim lessons annually for all ages, starting as young as 6 months, noted Brigis.

“Swimming lessons provide children with important, potentially lifesaving skills, to keep them safe in pools, on boats, or at the beaches, and they also offer tremendous benefit by providing regular athletic activity and provide a sense of achievement and confidence,” Brigis added.

With over 60,000 members, the YMCA of Long Island is the leading local provider of swim lessons and lifeguard instruction, is committed on a daily basis to the safety of all Long Islanders enjoying the water. To learn more about swim instruction programs, contact the YMCA of Long Island at (516) 674-8091.