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Janet Wright, Advanced Program Director at YMCA
Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 from 7 AM – 12 PM ET
Teaching children how to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them to look both ways before they cross the street. Three children die every day as a result of drowning. Learning the ability to swim not only keeps children safe but also helps them achieve physical fitness, build confidence, prevent chronic disease, and save their lives.
Would your child know what to do if they found themselves in the water unexpectedly? Would you? Are you familiar with the jump/push/turn/grab technique in the water?
Starting this summer, YMCA’s across the country are offering children a program, “Safety Around Water”, where they learn fundamental water safety skills and techniques including concepts of reach, throw, don’t go; CPR and what to look for in a safe place to swim. This year, the Y will give thousands of scholarships to children from underserved communities for free water safety lessons, empowering them with the skills to be safe around water.
On Tuesday, May 19th, Janet Wright, Advanced Program Director for the Y will let parents know about the Y’s new program She will also discuss some of the important skills children will learn in the program and how these skills can help not only keep their children safe but empower them in other aspects of their life. Janet will point to the importance of this type of program for African American and Hispanic families as 70% of African American and 60% of Hispanic children do not know how to swim and are statistically more likely to have -water-related accidents.
Suggested Questions :
· Can you tell us about the Safety Around Water program and how these types of programs benefit children?
· Which communities are at greatest risk for drowning incidents and what factors contribute to this?
· What are some of the important safety skills children will learn?
· Can you share some safety tips that parents should also be aware of?
· Where can parents get more information on how to enroll their children?
For more information go to: www.ymca.net/watersafety
About Janet: Janet Wright is currently the Advanced Program Director, overseeing the Aquatics and Membership Departments at the Columbia North YMCA, a branch of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA. Janet joined the Columbia North branch in March 2014 from the Roxborough branch, where she served as Aquatic Director. Janet first joined the YMCA movement in 2003 as a part-time lifeguard.
A native Philadelphian, Janet grew up in Mt. Airy, Northwest Philadelphia. She is passionate about the YMCA movement and the communities it serves. Outside of the Y, she is a devoted mother to a wonderful 9 year old son, Patrick. Janet enjoys swimming (obviously), playing volleyball and watching CNN.
Station Note: This segment is provided by the YMCA, a nonprofit organization