YMCA program in Hollywood, Weston gives kids a Safe Start in the water

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Denise Angelone tried several swimming programs with her son Jack, but she found that there was something missing.

Private lessons at her Weston home made the then-3-year-old comfortable in the water. However, Angelone wanted something more than learning the breaststroke.

She found it through the Sheinberg Family YMCA of Weston’s Safe Start drowning and prevention program.

Children ages 6 months to 4 years old are taught through one-on-one instruction what to do in a number of situations. Safe Start is taught in a six-week course with children attending lessons five days a week for 10 minutes each day.

Melody Callaway, director of media relations and communications for Safe Start USA, said research determined that having a consistent schedule in short intervals were most effective for a child’s ability to successfully master survivor swimming skills and retain information.

Parents also are educated about aquatic safety through interviews, observations and the Safe Start Parent Resource Book. Angelone saw the impact the program had on her son and put her 14-month-old, Alexa, through a session last summer.

“The results I got from my son were phenomenal,” she said. “This isn’t just how to swim. This isn’t just how to play. This is if there is an accident, they will know how to survive in the water. It’s more about prevention.”

Kendra Moore, aquatics director, said there’s been a positive response since the program was introduced at the Weston Y two years ago.

“There was a great need for the program here in Weston and the surrounding service area,” she said. “Broward County leads the state in drowning deaths, and drowning surpasses all other causes of death in Florida for children under the age of 14. So knowing a statistic like that, the YMCA of Broward Countyis doing its part to lower drowning rates.”

There are 22 YMCA facilities in Florida that offer the program. The Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center (3161 Taft St.) and the Sheinberg Family YMCA of Weston (20201 Saddle Club Road) have ongoing registration for the program.

For more information, call 954-989-9622 (Hollywood) or 954-424-9622 (Weston).