PEABODY — As pools, beaches and parks get set to reopen in Massachusetts and with Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer season, just days away, the YMCA of Metro North is taking a proactive approach to water safety.
While the coronavirus emergency has paused in-person swim lessons, the Y has nonetheless been committed to educating children and families about the importance of water safety.
“Although our facilities are closed, the need for life-saving swim skills remains a major public safety issue for youth and teens this summer,” said Rob Lowell, Executive Director at the Peabody-based Torigian Family YMCA. “We are offering this swim safety series free to everyone to hopefully fill the gap in swimming education due to the coronavirus lockdown this spring.”
The YMCA announced Tuesday that it has launched a free virtual water safety campaign campaign. Entitled “Water Smart is Water Safe,” the program features virtual swim lessons, instructional videos, downloadable swim safety tips, and other downloadable content for youth and guardians to use in preparation for summer water activities.
The announcement came on the heels of this week’s news that the plan to reopen Massachusetts is underway. The four-phase plan allows the resumption of many recreational outdoor activities, such as fishing and boating, along with the reopening of beaches and parks on May 18. Campgrounds along with public and community pools are slated to open during Phase 2, the so-called “Cautious” phase, which will begin a minimum of three weeks later.
Kathleen Walsh, President and CEO of Metro North, said that, while parents, who have been multitasking for weeks under stressful conditions at home with their children, may be tempted to take a well-deserved break over the Memorial Day weekend, she has one message, “don’t do it.”
“This is obviously no ordinary Memorial Day and with good weather expected, parents will be looking to take a break, but now is not the time to,” she advised. “When it comes to kids and water, you cannot ever take a break. Kids will be exceptionally anxious to get into the water, so this is not the time for parents to relax. It is not the time to look away. It is all the more important with kids not having had the benefit of swim lessons for more than two months, parents need to pay attention now more than ever before.”
As part of the campaign, Peabody Public Schools and Metro North will be co-hosting a region-wide water safety webinar on Friday at 5 p.m. to introduce the Virtual YMCA to students. The interactive webinar is designed to educate parents and children about the importance of water safety skills and also provide local youth access to water safety best practices.
Metro North provides swimming lessons to hundreds of young people each year as well as lifeguard training. Last year alone, Metro North provided swim lessons to more than 4,000 children and adults at its pools in Lynn, Melrose, Saugus, and Peabody. While pools have been closed since mid-March, Metro North facilities have deployed its team of swim instructors and lifeguards to develop a comprehensive library of safety tools with video demonstrations and resources for young people covering several safety topics, including how to identify a lifeguard, pool rules, swimming with life jackets, and many other useful safety tips.
The YMCA of Metro North Safety Around Water partnership with the Peabody Public Schools began in 2019 with a grant that provided every second-grade student in Peabody a complimentary, seven-week swim lesson program.
Walsh said transitioning the water safety curriculum to a digital format provides a valuable resource that seeks to prevent accidental drownings this summer.
“We know the risk of drowning or injury can be reduced by almost 90 percent if children participate in formal swim lessons by the age of 4,” said Walsh. “We have to try everything we can to continue that public safety service,” adding that the Metro North pools, both indoor and outdoor, are prepared to open with appropriate safety measures in place, the moment the state gives it the green light.
To register for the webinar or for more information about the program, go to https://www.ymcametronorth.org/water-safety/.
