The Californer - Registration Open For Free YMCA Safety Around Water Classes

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Session dates are from July 29 to August 31 with lessons held during the late afternoon and early evening.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. - Californer -- Registration is open for Safety Around Water (SAW) classes at the Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA. The free, five-session program provides water safety and basic swimming skills to children ages 5 to 13 with little or no water experience.

Session dates are from July 29 to August 31 with lessons held during the late afternoon and early evening. SAW classes take place in the Simi YMCA (3200 Cochran Street) and Yarrow YMCA (31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village) indoor swimming pools.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 3,500 people drown each year in the U.S. One in five of those who drown are children age 14 and under. For every child that drowns, another five are treated for near-drowning-related injuries.

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During SAW classes, children learn how to respond if they find themselves in unexpected water situations including how to float on their backs, reach the water's surface if they become submerged and safely reach a pool's edge.

The YMCA can offer SAW classes at no cost because of donations from the community.

To sign up, go to https://www.sevymca.org/safety-around-water. For questions, contact Brigitte Bonafont YMCA senior aquatics director, at bbonafont@sevymca.org.