HONOLULU (KHON2) — The YMCA of Honolulu is offering free Safety Around Water lessons and several campuses across the island to aid in preventing childhood drownings, which is the leading cause of death for keiki under 15 in the islands.
The program is designed to teach essential water survival skills to keiki aged 5 to 15 who have little or no swimming experience.
Registration opens on June 19 at 8 a.m., and interested families can register on the YMCA of Honolulu’s website or by calling the service center at (808) 678-4296.
The classes will be as follows, and participants must be present at all five hour-long sessions they choose.
- Kaimukī-Waiʻalae: July 10 through July 14, or July 17 through July 21.
- Leeward: July 19 through July 23, or July 26 through July 30.
- Mililani: July 21 through 25, or July 28 through Aug. 1.
- Nuʻuanu: July 14 through July 18, or July 21 through 25.
- Windward: July 14 through July 18, or July 21 through 25.
The five sessions will show keiki what to do if they accidentally fall into a pool or body of water, as well as multiple life-saving techniques.
Sessions at the Mililani, Leeward, Kaimukī-Waiʻalae and Windward campuses are funded by the state Department of Health.
“Every year in Hawaiʻi, we lose young children to fatal drownings, and we see many more in our trauma centers and emergency departments,” DOH State Trauma Systems Program Manager Garrett D. Hall said. “Some children suffer long-term health effects such as brain damage. Toddlers are especially at risk, as are children with health conditions.”
The Nuʻuanu classes are courtesy of a personal donation from part-time Hawaiʻi residents Debbie and Andy Howard, in memory of their niece Juliette Ortega who drowned on her third birthday in 2010.
“The loss of a precious child to drowning is a tragedy that is profound and never-ending,” Debbie Howard said. “We hope our gift inspires others to support this life-saving program so that every child has the chance to learn how to be safe around water.”