BELFAST — May is National Water Safety Month, and the Waldo County YMCA (WCY) is focusing on keeping kids safe around water. For more than 10 years, the YMCA has partnered with schools across Waldo County to teach first graders important water safety skills through its free First Grade Swim Safety Program. 

The program includes lessons in the classroom and a special trip to the Tom and Sally Savage Pool Complex. There, students learn how to stay safe in and around water and start building confidence while swimming. 

This effort comes alongside a national YMCA campaign called Phones Down, Eyes Up. This campaign reminds parents and caregivers to pay full attention when kids are near water, such as at pools, lakes, or beaches. It warns against the dangers of being distracted by phones or other things while watching children swim or play near water. 

While vigilance plays an important role in drowning prevention, the First Grade Swim Safety Program gives kids additional life-saving skills that can help them in emergencies. WCY Board Members Julie Morse and Denise Lindahl have helped lead the program for over a decade.

“You can really see a difference in how the kids handle the water after these lessons,” said Morse, in a WCY news release.

Lindahl added, “Some kids are scared at first and don’t even want to put their faces in the water. But after just one hour, they are more comfortable and confident.” 

Aquatics Director Zach Blanchard said, “Our goal is to help kids feel confident around water and to lower the risk of drowning. These lessons give kids the tools they need to be safe, and we teach them at an age when they’re eager to learn.” In 2024, more than 200 first graders received swim safety training, and that number keeps growing. 

The program is made possible with support from WCY Sustaining Sponsors and funds raised at the Waldo County River Races held each spring. Robbins Lumber, located near the Saint George River in Searsmont, ME, contributes generously to both and recognizes the importance of the First Grade Swim Program. “We’re proud to be involved in this important drowning prevention effort while encouraging fun and safe water activities in the community,” shared owner Catherine Robbins-Halsted.  

Statistics from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance show that 88% of drownings happen when an adult is nearby. That’s why the YMCA is asking families to take the Phones Down, Eyes Up pledge and stay focused when supervising children near water this summer. 

As part of the campaign, the YMCA suggests picking a “Water Watcher”—an adult whose only job is to keep an eye on kids in the water. Water Watchers should not be distracted by phones, conversations, or alcohol. Families who take the pledge will get helpful tools like safety tips, reminder wallpapers for their phones, and printable Water Watcher lanyards.

To learn more about becoming a Water Watcher and joining the Phones Down, Eyes Up campaign, visit phonesdowneyesup.org. 

The Waldo County YMCA is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening individuals and communities across Waldo County through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving  the community’s health and well-being, and supporting and serving our neighbors, the Y enables  positive change and provides opportunities for all to learn, grow, and thrive. 

The WCY Sustaining Sponsors, Viking Lumber, Consumers Fuel, First National Bank, Ridge Maine, and Robbins Lumber ensure our programs remain affordable, high-quality, and community-focused.