CLEVELAND, Ohio – A novel, multigenerational approach to swim lessons aims to save lives and create summer fun across Greater Cleveland.
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland is inviting non-swimmer families of all ages to literally put their toes in the water and learn together.
Chris Schuer, district executive director and operations manager for the Hillcrest Family YMCA branch in Lyndhurst, invites grandparents, children and grandchildren to learn to swim together as part of Water Safety Month in May. I would like to.
He said: “Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children aged 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14. And what's really interesting is that… “This epidemic is disproportionately impacting children of color.”
He said 64 percent of black children and 45 percent of Latino children cannot swim, compared to just 40 percent of white children.
“This is a generational issue and what we are trying to fight is that if grandma is afraid of water and can't swim, then her children and grandchildren won't be able to swim. We're going to break down that barrier. ”
“To address this issue, we offer multi-generational swimming lessons that the whole family can participate in. The Earth is 71% water, so we're not going anywhere. Once you take formal swimming lessons, It can reduce the risk of drowning in children between the ages of 1 and 4 by 88%, which is a very dramatic effect.”
“What I want to see most is people being comfortable in the water. Everyone has the ability to swim, just being comfortable in the water and not panicking.”
Mr Schuur said: “Having fun in the water is the goal, and many lessons begin with the experience of learning that water is a friend, not an enemy. Once you accept and respect water as an ally, you learn to swim with an open mind. , which can improve safety around water.
He said even basic swimming skills were enough to save his life and the lives of others. “Once you learn how to swim, we talk about helping someone in trouble, but if you don't know how to swim and you go to help someone in the water, you end up with two victims, so you put things on the rope. Learn about throwing and helping” into the water. “
“My past experience teaching lifeguard classes is about protecting yourself. When you go to someone in trouble, they panic and grab onto something nearby. It could be you, and they could take you.”
Adult supervision of children's swimming is important, he said, but adults also need to know how to swim. “Adults who can't swim won't be much help if a child is in crisis. It's water safety for everyone, not just young people.”
Scheuer said the potential for problems increases exponentially as summer approaches and Cleveland is surrounded by lakes, rivers and, of course, Lake Erie.
“A lot of people sometimes run into problems with pools, when you can see the bottom and have a realistic slope. But in the Great Lakes, you have a current and a bottom sound, and you can suddenly fall off. It's great to cool off. It feels good, but you have to be aware of your surroundings.”
“The greatest safety blanket you can have is to learn to swim and protect yourself before someone else has to protect you. No matter the situation, you are always with you. You are yourself. create independence.”
He said lessons will begin in stages and progress according to people's comfort level. “First of all, we don't just let people who are afraid of water jump in. It's about building confidence. We encourage kids to just splash in the water, practice slowly, and try to catch something from the bottom of the pool. You might pick it up, put your face in the water, and get it to trust you.”
“The water doesn't want you in it, it pushes you out. Many people don't believe that you can float just by lying on your back and controlling your breathing. If you take a deep breath, you'll rise, and if you exhale, you'll sink.The person in trouble panics and starts to do both, going up and down, which makes them panic even more.It's physical as well as psychological. It's also something like that.
Scheyer said the YMCA has offered parent-child classes in the past, but this is the first time they've invited multi-generational families to learn to swim together. “We want grandmas, moms, dads and grandchildren,” he said. “It's an element of trust and the fear is real and I never take it lightly. You deal with it and say how can I get through it? The water is never going to go away and I They will be dealing with water for the rest of their lives, so they need to be treated with respect, but they can also enjoy it.”
He said adult lessons are just as popular as youth lessons at YMCA branches across Greater Cleveland, and encouraged families to stop by the centers to sign up.
He urged anyone who wants to work as a swimming instructor to visit a YMCA branch immediately. “Another challenge we have is a shortage of swim instructors, so if you know someone who wants to develop lifelong swimming skills, go to your local YMCA.” What keeps me up at night is that there are people drowning in our community and we are not responding to them because of the national shortage. I couldn't do it.”
For Water Safety Month in May, here are his top tips for staying safe on the water. Supervising children in the water, walking around the pool, not running to avoid slipping, knowing that the best way to help is to notify an adult or lifeguard, throwing something that floats, life jackets and participate in a swimming program.
For more information about family swim lessons, visit your local YMCA branch or visit www.clevelandymca.org.
