Water Safety

Henderson County Family YMCA Brings “Safety Around Water” Program to Local 3rd Grade Students

After nearly 15 years, the Henderson County YMCA has recently brought back a water safety program for students in Henderson County through a partnership with both the Henderson County Public Schools and Holy Name School. This program not only teaches children how to be safe around water but also the basics
of how to swim, too. 

Identifying a Need

Jason Beasley, Chief Executive Officer of Henderson County Family YMCA, has been with the YMCA for 30 years serving mainly in Alabama and then Louisiana before joining the Henderson, KY facility in June 2022. Upon his arrival, our local YMCA did not have a lot of programs after coming out of covid. Everything had been shut down, so there had not been any spring break or summer day camps being offered at the time and sports offerings were limited. 

With Jason’s leadership, they immediately began working on bringing those programs back to the Henderson community. However, Jason explained how he quickly identified the need for water safety in Henderson County when they started getting kids into these programs who could not pass the swim test. He was shocked when, for example, there were 40 kids signed up for a program and they suddenly needed 30 life jackets. “That gave me a clue that there was a major need in this community,” he expressed. “Then of course I understand we have the only indoor pool in the entire county and even when the summertime pools open, there just isn’t a lot of access or availability.” 

Through seeing this need, Jason wanted to bring the national YMCA’s “Safety Around Water” program to the Henderson County Family YMCA. Although it is a national program, not every YMCA offers it. It’s primarily offered in the areas where the need is identified. 

The Vision 

Jason identified the need in 2022. In 2023, he started talking to Dr. Lawson, Superintendent of Henderson County Schools, about his vision, and it was offered to all of the principals in the district. “This is drastically different than the previous “Learn to Swim” program that was offered here in Henderson County 15+ years ago,” Jason stated. 

After sharing his vision with the schools, Erika Odom, principal of East Heights Elementary, was the first to reach out to Jason expressing interest. All third grade students from East Heights came through the program in spring 2024. Then, Holy Name said they wanted to come give it a try. They were the second school to have third graders come through in spring 2024. Now, here they are halfway into the 2024/2025 school calendar and every elementary school in the county is signed up. So – why third grade students? “It has much to do with the maturity of the student to maximize how much they can learn in a short amount of time,” Jason said. He noted they see the most success with third graders, and just based on the five schools they have seen this school year, they are seeing a 65% success rate. 

There is no funding for the “Safety Around Water” program. The YMCA does not get any money from this program. This program is all about the safety of our children. “It takes a great amount of personnel effort, planning and scheduling and developing the coursework for what we want to accomplish while they are with us,” stated the CEO.  

The classes only take place for one week Monday-Thursday for a short amount of time each day. The students are tested on the first and last day. 

Once a school has made the decision to come on board and be part of this program, it is just about deciding  which dates they will come. Jason asked each school to pick one week. He explained how in the past, the YMCA tried to squeeze everything in the months of  February, March and April and that was really tough. “I’ve done this in several different cities, so it’s best if we can teach the students from 11:45am-1:15pm. Then it’s easier to recruit volunteers.” Jason went on to explain many are willing to volunteer on their lunch breaks, or students from the high school are able to come and serve for community hours. Members at the YMCA who are retired and very able bodied come help. Megan Mortis and Jenny Richmond from the Henderson County Board of Education both volunteer with every school that comes through because they are both passionate about swimming. The volunteers needed per school is based on what is needed to give them a 5:1 ratio. They find they have the most success with this ratio. All instructors are trained and have background checks. This also allows the teachers to only be there to help the YMCA staff and instructors oversee the children rather than being in the water with them during the class.  

“The YMCA has always offered swim lessons but nothing on this wide of a scale has been offered like this where we are trying to provide access to students who normally wouldn’t see the water other than we live in a river community,” said the long-time YMCA employee. 

The Water Safety Class

A week before class begins, parents receive a letter explaining what their children will be learning at the YMCA. This includes not only how the YMCA will protect their safety but what they hope to teach them while they are there. The Friday before class begins, YMCA staff members will go visit all of the classrooms at whichever school will be participating the following week. 

The students receive what they call a water guide. It’s a coloring book that goes through all kinds of areas regarding water safety, from rules at a pool to how a student should make a 911 call followed by scenarios. One of the main skills they teach is “Reach or Throw, Don’t Go.” They take pool noodles to the classrooms to show kids what to do if a friend were to fall into water. Jason explained how in a water emergency, it’s important to remember you are not a strong enough swimmer. If a friend falls in water, you never go in after them. Instead, you reach for something, such as a pool noodle to reach with or throw them something that floats.

While YMCA staff members are visiting the classrooms prior to the swim class, students are given a worksheet where they circle what they can do in water, what they like, etc. For example, “Can you swim?” The staff compares what the students  tell them on Friday to their swim test on Monday. 

On Monday, students arrive at the YMCA. They immediately begin testing the students and are split up based on their level. If children can swim 20 yards unassisted and without stopping in deep water, float on their back and maintain their head above water and without any underwater body movement for at least 5 seconds and be able to tread water, they pass the swim test. Children are placed in the advanced group if they can swim 20 yards unassisted using any stroke without having to grab the side and float in the water for 5-10 seconds. Children who can keep themselves above the water but don’t necessarily use a stroke are grouped into intermediate. Those who need assistance are put into the beginner level starting out. 

On Tuesday, students go back to the same group they were placed into and continue with their swim lessons. Wednesdays are water safety day. Students who are starting to progress are given a ring buoy and practice throwing it in by holding the rope in one hand and throwing the buoy beyond their friend. They learn how to reach with a long pole. An example, if a friend were to fall in the river what could you grab? A stick! 

The swim lessons vary based on the level. Those in the advanced group focus on endurance. They practice swimming and when they get tired, turn over on their back for a minute to relax until they are ready to swim again. 

Students also learn the technique known as “Jump, Push, Turn, and Grab.” This teaches students how to react if they accidentally fall into water. This is practiced in the deep end. They want to teach the children this technique so they become so reactive they don’t have to even think about it. They go to the bottom of the pool, push off the bottom, turn and grab the edge. Jason expressed that all of the students who have come through this program so far have been able to show they can do that. Those who are afraid of water, they have been able to help them to conquer that fear. 

Fridays are left open to use as a makeup day. 

A Positive Outcome

“Safety Around Water” has been and continues to be a successful new offering and partnership through the YMCA for our local students. Jason is able to send each school a stat report at the end of the week and thanks them for bringing their students to be part of this amazing program! 

One school only had 19% of students who could pass the swim test on the first day. By Thursday, 65% of the students were able to pass. This increase was significant – given that these students are only there for such a short amount of time for four days. 

The YMCA has also seen an increase in both swim lessons and in their youth swim team, but they haven’t had a way to capture if the increase is due to child participation in the water safety program. They assume there is a correlation though. 

This program would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the amazing organizations who heard about the vision and wanted to give or be part of it in some way. Jason laughed as he explained how his first couple years he spoke at every service club and church that would have him. The Rotary Club gave $2,500 just after Jason shared his vision. Then the Preston Foundation, Lions Club and City/County grants. All of these donations have helped in buying the equipment and materials needed to bring this program to Henderson County and to expand to each school.

Students have sent thank you notes to Jason thanking him for letting them come. They have thanked him for teaching them to swim better and expressed how much they loved it. Some shared how they were afraid and now they aren’t. One student said, “thank you for teaching me how to swim, kick, float and save myself.” These thank you letters written by the students have meant so much to Jason because it’s proof that this program is making a difference. It isn’t the teachers or principals sharing these statements but the students themselves.  

The proud and grateful CEO said, “We may never know how many lives we have saved by doing this program, but what we do know is that a lot of children conquer their fears. They now have an activity they don’t have to be nervous about to go with friends to participate, and we also see that they just light up with the confidence they gain not being afraid of the water.”