YORK COUNTY, Pa. — During the Fourth of July weekend, many people will go to the pool, but with an increase in drownings across the U.S., safety is being stressed.
“I know a lot of people say, ‘My kids are really comfortable in the bathtub.’ Sometimes the bathtub doesn’t translate into larger bodies of water. They get nervous, fearful of the water and then they’re not thinking about their safety or the safety of others,” said Kat Grogan, assistant manager at Kids First Swim School in York County.
Grogan has taught swimming lessons for over 10 years and advises kids to start lessons as early as two months old to build a valuable skillset before the fear of water creeps in.
She says the increase in drownings across the U.S. is due in part to barriers to getting swimming lessons, such as cost, water insecurity for kids with special needs, lack of swim schools, parents’ fear of swimming, or ignorance of the importance of swimming lessons.
According to the CDC, more children between the ages of one and four die from drowning than any other cause of death.
“Those statistics are very scary for us,” said Dan Leighlitner, dad of Kids First Swim School student. “We do want to put in a pool eventually, but we refuse to do so until all of our kids are very confident swimmers. So, this is a great start towards that.”
When Leighlitner first started bringing his son, Landon, to the Kids First Swim School in York County, he wouldn’t enter the building without kicking and screaming due to his fear of swimming. Now, Landon can swim on his own, which is a skill Leighlitner says is priceless.
“The price to potentially save your child’s life versus a dollar amount is not even close,” he said.
Grogan says beyond swimming lessons, it’s important to keep an eye on your children while in water, wear bright-colored swimsuits, goggles underwater and sunglasses to see clearly outdoors.
“Instead of just sitting on the side of the pool and watching your kids swim, I would suggest getting in the pool with them. Not only is it a benefit to them, but you’ll also be able to respond [and] play with your kids, and they’ll never forget those moments,” said Grogan.