Courtesy photo.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration will open on February 12 for Safety Around Water (SAW) classes at the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. The free, six-session program provides water safety and basic swimming skills to children with little or no water experience.
The once-a-week sessions are offered on Mondays March 4 through April 15, and on Wednesdays March 6 through April 17. Class times are 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. SAW is for elementary-aged children. It teaches participants how to exit a pool safely and other water safety skills.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5 and 14 (behind car crashes). “Every child should learn water safety skills,” says Brigitte Bonafont, YMCA senior aquatics director. “The Y is committed to preventing these tragic events in our community and ensuring children can safely enjoy the health and recreational benefits of swimming.”
The Y can offer SAW at no cost because of donations from the community.
The Yarrow YMCA is at 31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Westlake Village. To sign up, go to https://www.sevymca.org/safety-around-water. For questions, contact Bonafont at bbonafont@sevymca.org.