(May 2017) KC Parks is helping keep kids safe this summer by offering FREE BEGINNING SWIMMING LESSONS to area youth in the first two skill levels of Learn-to-Swim lessons. Lessons will be offered throughout June and July at outdoor Water Parks, Major Pools and indoors at Gregg/Klice, Southeast and Tony Aguirre Community Center pools. In celebration of Kansas City Parks and Recreation’s 125th anniversary, KC Parks announced a goal of teaching 1,125 kids to swim in 2017.
The intention of the FREE beginning lessons is to lower the possibility of a water-related incident and to increase water safety knowledge in Kansas City children. May is also water safety month! As we swing from spring to summer, it’s time to get ready for the swimming season which officially kicks off Memorial Day weekend.
Water safety is of the utmost importance. National statistics from the CDC show:
- From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about 10 deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.
- About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
- More than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments (EDs) require hospitalization or transfer for further care (compared with a hospitalization rate of about 6% for all unintentional injuries). These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative).
The safety of Kansas City children is paramount to KC Parks. The FREE lessons reaffirm our commitment to education and well-being for all of our residents. Call Midwest Pool Management at 816-350-2628 to register at Water Parks Major Pools. Call the Community Centers directly to register at the community center pools. Classes must meet minimum enrollment levels to be held.