Y Splash
Y Splash: Water Safety for Second Graders
In the time it takes to answer a phone call, a child can slip underwater and lose consciousness. That’s how quickly drowning can happen.
And it doesn’t only happen in pools. Drowning can occur anywhere there is standing water—ponds, creeks, culverts, bathtubs, and even buckets.
That’s why we offer Y Splash.
Y Splash is a free, life-saving water safety program provided by the YMCA to help children learn critical skills that reduce the risk of drowning. More than just safety, these lessons build confidence and help kids feel more comfortable in and around water.
What Students Learn
Y Splash is a proven program that teaches fundamental water safety skills through six 45-minute instructional sessions. A typical session includes:
- Exercises that help children adjust to being in the water
- Skill instruction for what to do if they unexpectedly fall into water
- Safety lessons such as what to do if someone needs help
- Fun activities that reinforce skills and build confidence
These critical, life-saving skills are taught in just three days.
How the Program Works
Each day of Y Splash includes two parts:
Morning: A YMCA Aquatics expert visits the school to teach a water safety lesson.
Afternoon: Students are transported by bus from their school to the Kirk, Salem, or Botetourt YMCA for in-water instruction.
Each lesson also includes a take-home handout for parents and caregivers with additional water safety tips.
In the morning, a YMCA Aquatics expert visits the school and teaches a safety lesson for the day. In the afternoon students are transported by bus from their school to the Kirk, Salem, or Botetourt YMCA to learn in the pool. Each lesson includes a handout for parents and caregivers with additional water safety tips.
Free Follow-Up Swim Lessons
During Y Splash, we identify children who are non-swimmers and offer them FREE swim lessons at the YMCA to continue building skills and confidence.
Schools We Serve
Through Y Splash, we teach every second grader at participating schools across:
- Roanoke City
- Roanoke County
- Salem City
- Botetourt County
On average, 53% of participating children are identified as non-swimmers, placing them at a higher risk for drowning.
Help Us Keep Kids Safe
The YMCA and our area public schools are committed to ensuring children have the skills they need to stay safe around water—but we can’t do it alone.
Donate
A gift of $3,000 can provide Y Splash water safety instruction for an entire school of second graders.
Because of generous donors, this program is 100% free for students and families.
Volunteer Opportunities
It takes a village to keep our kids safe, and we invite our community to help us. Volunteers assist swim instructors one hour a day, one or more days a week throughout the school year.
The Y is seeking volunteers who can teach water safety to second graders in our Y Splash program.