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Dive Into Summer: Top Tips for Safe Family Swimming
Summer is in full swing, and that means sunshine, family fun, and lots of time around water. Whether you’re headed to the beach, pool, or lake, it’s important to keep safety at the top of your summer checklist. Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children, and most incidents are preventable.
Drowning is the number one cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4 and the third leading cause for kids and teens under 19. In 2018 alone, 918 young people lost their lives to drowning, and over 7,000 were treated in emergency rooms. Across the Great Lakes in Michigan, at least 87 drowning deaths were reported statewide in 2024. These numbers highlight the importance of water safety, no matter how experienced a swimmer may be. Click here for more information from Safe Kids Worldwide.
One of the most effective ways to keep children safe is through active supervision. Keep young swimmers and weaker swimmers within arm’s reach at all times. For older kids, enforce the buddy system. When several adults are around, take turns being the designated "Water Watcher" for short time periods to ensure constant, focused attention.
Swimming lessons save lives. While every child is different, it’s important to enroll them in swim lessons when they’re developmentally ready. In addition to basic strokes, make sure your child learns key water survival skills, including how to float, tread water, jump in and resurface, and safely exit the water. Organizations like the YMCA offer swim lessons in communities across the state, like the YMCA “Detroit Swims” Program. This program provides completely free swim lessons to Detroit-area children (roughly ages 8–13), including suits and goggles. https://ymcadetroit.org/programs/swim/detroitswims/
For years, MSMS Speaker of the House of Delegates and Board member Bryan Huffman, MD, has been raising awareness of water safety and supporting free or reduced-cost swimming lesson in West Michigan by undertaking marathon open-water swims around the globe. To learn more about his epic swims across the English Channel, the New York City 20 Bridges, and the Catalina Channel to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming or to support his efforts to raise funds for the Holland Aquatic Center Swimming Lessons Program, please visit https://hollandaquatic.org/bryans-big-swims/.
For more water safety tips, you can visit Safe Kids at www.safekids.org, or the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org. You’ll find helpful guidance on swimming, boating safety, and even water safety at home. Let’s make water safety a priority this season.