It’s called the Blue Water Area for a reason. There is a whole lot of water, and while it provides endless recreation opportunities, it can be dangerous and even deadly. Learning water safety and swimming skills is essential to enjoying all that cool, refreshing water.

The United States Swim School Association says, “Learning to swim is a life-or-death skill, essential for every child.  Formal swim lessons between ages 1 and 4 can help reduce the risk of drowning by 88% according to a study conducted in 2015.”

Unfortunately, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the USSSA, and they report that it is a leading cause of death or injury for young people up to 14 years of age.

Learning to swim as soon as possible is an effective way to keep kids safe in the water. Even if your family didn’t learn to swim at a young age, it’s never too late to learn.

There are plenty of options for swim lessons. They are offered at many levels through the YMCA of the Blue Water Area and at several city pools. Click the links for signup information.

St. Clair Recreation

Port Huron Recreation Aquatics Program

Marysville Recreation Aquatics Program