Day: May 3, 2024

Swim-a-palooza Event Promotes Water Safety Awareness

EVERETT, WA. May 3, 2024 – In an effort to promote water safety awareness and equip the community with essential swimming skills, the YMCA of Snohomish County is hosting its first-ever Swim-a-palooza – the largest swim lesson in the county – on Saturday, May 18. The free one-hour event will occur at five Snohomish County YMCA locations and it’s open to all youth ages 3-12.

“We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to learn how to swim and be equipped with essential water safety skills,” said Tom Wunderlich, Association Director of Aquatic Advancement, YMCA of Snohomish County. “By offering a free swim lesson, we hope to empower our community and reduce the risk of water-related accidents. Together, we can make Snohomish County a safer place for everyone.”

As summer approaches and activities in and around water increase, water safety is a critical skill. Drowning ranks among the leading causes of unintentional death worldwide, highlighting the need for comprehensive swimming education. By offering a free swim lesson on such a large scale, the Y hopes to mitigate risks and prevent accidents, ultimately saving lives.

Swim-a-palooza consists of a 30-minute swim lesson, water safety discussion, basic assessment of every participant’s skill level, and a brief open swim session where families can join children in the pool. Families will walk away from the experience with some new skills and information about what level their child should register for in the YMCA’s progressive swim lesson program.

“Water safety is a very serious topic, but our goal is to present it as a fun experience for the whole family,” said Wunderlich. “Kids will get a swimming lesson and some basic water safety information and then families can enjoy some time in the pool.”

This event represent just one facet of the Y’s ongoing commitment to keeping kids safe in and around water. As a leader in aquatics education, the Y strives to make swim lessons accessible to all Snohomish County residents. By equipping individuals – particularly children – with essential swimming and water safety skills, the Y aims to create a lasting impact on the local community.

“The goal is provide families the tools they need to enjoy water safely,” said Wunderlich. “It’s the time of year when the weather is getting warmer and people will be spending more time at pools and on the water. If we can help prevent one tragedy by educating the community, we will consider Swim-a-palooza a success.”

Swim-a-palooza is free and open to the community. To learn more and to register, please visit: ymca-snoco.org/aquatics.