NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — For one YMCA instructor, the importance of water safety became extremely clear when her six-year-old son found his way into a backyard pool. He did not know how to swim at the time.
The fun afternoon at a birthday party suddenly turned into a nerve-wracking moment. Fortunately, he at least knew what to do in order to stay afloat.
“When I walked out, he was floating on his back,” said YMCA Aquatics Executive Elizabeth Elam. “Proud mom moment and also a little bit of a gut-check for me to remember I need to be a water watcher. I need to make sure the tips that I’m providing that I’m also utilizing those as well.”
Elam leads a weeklong swimming program for second-graders in Newport News. In a matter of days, they learn how to swim and gain critical water safety skills.
“If I’m in danger, I can float on my back,” said Jeri Tejada’s son, Michael.
He is one of Elam’s many students. He did not know how to swim before, but was never afraid of water, according to his mother.
“At one point, Michael would just jump in the water and didn’t care,” Tejada said. “And to this day, he’ll still do it.”
Tejada said the swimming program made a huge difference in their lives.
“He knocked it out of the water the first day,” she said. “I was shocked.”
May is water safety month. As part of this, Elam wants to share some crucial safety tips with families in the community.
The first is to not ever swim alone. Always ask permission before going into a pool. That way someone knows someone is swimming in case an emergency happens. Never go in after someone who needs help, and instead, try to reach for them with things like pool noodles and safety rings.
“We use the term, ‘reach throw don’t go,’ in order to help someone if they are in need without you having to go in after them,” Elam said.
Her last tip: If you are not swimming, keep a close watch for those who are.
“If you’re just sitting on the beach or lounging on the deck of a pool, you can be a water watcher,” Elam said. “So instead of picking up your cell phone or reading a book, choose to watch the water. Choose to watch the children or the families that are playing so you can help recognize an emergency when it happens.”
“I hope they continue doing this,” Tejada said. “Because there’s a lot of kids that do drown in the water. You look away for a quick second, and your baby is in the water.”
You can find more of the YMCA’s water safety resources at this link: https://www.ymcavp.org/national-water-safety-month
