Many parents are now signing their children up for swim lessons after several drowning deaths in the area.
According to kidshealth.org, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. A drowning can happen in less than two minutes, once a person's head goes under the water.
Now one local YMCA is seeing an increase in swim lesson sign-ups due to several drowning deaths in the area over the last few weeks.
The YMCA is known as the nation's number one swim instructor. Hundreds of swimming lessons go on at each YMCA branch, each week.
In Anniston, the "Y" has seen a spike in swim lesson sign-ups. They are up 25 percent from this week to next week. Officials believe the increase is due to several drowning deaths in the past couple of weeks. Two preschool children and two teenagers have drowned.
Swim instructors say the earlier you teach your children to swim, the better. Some parents believe it provides peace of mine.
Laura Nelson of the Anniston YMCA said, "The only way to prevent drowning is to teach your children how to swim. We do not drown proof children — again, the only way to lower that number is to teach your children how to swim."
Nelson also told NBC13 that when a drowning occurs, parents realize it's time to sign their child up for lessons. And it's never too late to learn how to swim.
The "Y" has classes that begin for children as young as six months old - and also has swim lessons for adults.
Click here for tips on how to swim safely.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement