With summer just around the corner, keeping your family safe around the pool, beach or even the bath tub is important, and May is National Water Safety and National Drowning Prevention month.
Some simple tips to remember are:
- Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning. Teach children to swim at an early age.
- Swim with a buddy - When you swim with a buddy, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to help.
- When swimming at the beach, remember to swim near a lifeguard. Lifeguards are your friends!
Throughout San Diego County there are numerous programs to help your kids learn water safety.
Junior Lifeguards is one of the many programs each of our beach cities offer to help educate kids.
Del Mar
Del Mar provides several sessions ranging from 1 to 4-weeks with super sessions available including surfing instruction. The program emphasizes beach and water related activities, respect for the ocean and fun!
Solana Beach
Solana Beach Junior Lifeguards offer two-week and four-week programs for kids ages 9-16 and no experience is necessary. Focusing on in depth topics that include Beach and Ocean Safety, marine environment, free diving and more!
San Diego
The San Diego Junior Lifeguardprogram offers youth – ages 7 to 17 – an opportunity to learn from professional lifeguards.
Carlsbad
Unlike the majority of cities along our coastline, Carlsbad maintains only a portion that is not controlled as part of the California State Parks system. Please contact Carlsbad State Junior Lifeguards for local programs in the Carlsbad area. Phone: 760-479-2000 or email: carlsbadjg@sbcglobal.net
Imperial Beach
The City of Imperial Beach works to increase water safety through public education programs, like the Junior Lifeguard Program. Youth have an opportunity to gain a variety of skills and knowledge about how to enjoy the beach safely as well as build confidence and skills for life.
Oceanside
If you live in Oceanside, registration opened April 1, so be sure to check out the sessions now! The Oceanside Junior Lifeguard Program offers individuals ages 9-17 the opportunity to learn beach safety and ocean lifesaving skills from experienced Oceanside Beach Lifeguards.
Encinitas
The City of Encinitas Junior Lifeguard program is designed for boys and girls ages 9-17 to enhance their ocean skills with two-week sessions offered throughout the summer. The goal is to educate young people in ocean and beach safety while building self-confidence and appreciation for the ocean environment.
Pool Safety and Drowning Prevention
Throughout the month of May, YMCA branches throughout San Diego County are offering scholarships to attend the Safety Around Water program.
We know that Hispanic and African American communities have highest risk of drowning among children, so the Y offers programs to help educate kids and parents on the importance of water safety skills.
During the four-week program, children learn how to respond if they find themselves in unexpected water situations.
Families interested in learning more about Safety Around Water or how to enroll their child in local Y swimming and water safety classes should contact your local Y for details or visit ymca.org to find the program near you.
For more water safety tips including fun in the sun for infants and small children, please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics.
