Dayton Children’s and YMCA partnership helps 575 kids learn to swim, boosts parent water safety knowledge

Dayton Children's Hospital, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Dayton, provided free swimming lessons for 575 children this summer, while also equipping parents and caregivers with lifesaving knowledge about drowning prevention.

The program, funded through a Community Injury Action Group (CIAG), ran from May through July at five YMCA locations, with additional lessons scheduled through September. Alongside the lessons, Dayton Children's injury prevention team provided education on the nationally recognized "5 Layers of Protection," designed to prevent drownings:

1. Constant supervision: Always watching children when they are in or near water.
2. Barriers: Installing fences, gates and pool covers to prevent unsupervised access.
3. Life jackets: Ensuring children wear properly fitted flotation devices in open water.
4. Water competency: Teaching children to swim and safely navigate water.
5. Emergency preparedness: Knowing CPR and having a plan in case of an accident.

To measure impact, parents completed pre- and post-tests on drowning prevention. The results were striking:

• Pre-test average score: 60%
• Post-test average score: 98%

"Educating more families about water safety and drowning prevention empowers them to recognize risks, make safer choices around water and respond effectively in emergencies," said Stefani Taylor, active transportation and water safety injury prevention specialist at Dayton Children's. "This knowledge, combined with the '5 Layers of Protection,' can significantly reduce preventable tragedies and create a culture of safety in our community."

Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many parents who participated in the program admitted they had no prior knowledge of the "5 Layers of Protection" or how drowning actually occurs.

While the free swimming lessons were made possible through grant funding, Dayton Children's has shared the education materials with all five YMCA locations to help continue reaching families. The hospital's injury prevention team is also available to provide the training to other community organizations by filling out this form. Organizations interested in training opportunities or resources are encouraged to fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/r/KLv59XFm7c