Riverbrook Regional YMCA Brings Lifesaving Swim Instruction to Norwalk Elementary Students

The Riverbrook Regional YMCA recently announced a new partnership with Jefferson Marine Science Elementary School in Norwalk to provide swim lessons and water safety education for all third, fourth and fifth grade students. This effort complements the YMCA’s S.W.I.M. (Swimming With Instruction Matters) Initiative, which introduces foundational water safety concepts to first graders through free swim lessons and membership to the YMCA. Together, these programs create a continuum of water safety education that begins early and builds toward essential swim skills as children grow.

The program addresses a critical public health issue: drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5–14 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nationally, more than 4,500 people die from drowning each year, and experts emphasize that access to swim lessons can significantly reduce risk.

The need is especially urgent for children of color. CDC data shows that for people under age 30, drowning rates among Black children are 1.5 times higher than those of white children, with the greatest disparities occurring among children ages 10–14 in swimming pools. In fact, Black children in this age group drown in pools at rates more than seven times higher than their white peers. Lack of access to affordable swim instruction is widely recognized as a contributing factor, making school-based partnerships a powerful tool for prevention.

Through this collaboration, certified YMCA instructors will provide age appropriate swim instruction, water safety skills, and confidence building lessons during the school day, ensuring every participating student has the opportunity to learn this lifesaving skill regardless of background or family resources. “At the YMCA, water safety is a matter of equity,” YMCA Chief Operating Officer Samantha Lusher said. “By pairing early education through the S.W.I.M. Initiative within water instruction for older elementary students, we are closing the access gap and helping prevent tragedies before they happen.”