Safety Around Water: A Lifesaving Mission at the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA
For families in Florida, water is part of everyday life. Pools, beaches and lakes are woven into the rhythm of our communities, yet Florida continues to lead the nation in child drowning. It is a reality that weighs heavily on many parents, and it is why the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA remains committed to providing free access to life-saving water safety education.
This week, in alignment with Hillsborough County Spring Break, the Y welcomed hundreds of children to participate in Safety Around Water, a free four day program that helps kids ages 3 through 12 build confidence and learn essential skills that can prevent drowning.
Safety Around Water is taught by certified YMCA instructors who specialize in helping beginners and non-swimmers feel safe in and around the water. Children learn how to enter and exit a pool safely, float, reach the wall and return to the surface if they fall in. These are small steps, but they create the foundation for long term water safety.
“This program is all about giving back to the community and ensuring that everyone has access to important water safety skills,” said Lacey Boldman, Aquatics Operations Director at the Tampa YMCA. “Spring and summer bring families back to pools, lakes and beaches, so this is always our most important time of year to educate and protect our youth.”
The need for early education is clear. More children under the age of four drown in Florida than anywhere else in the country. In 2025 alone, 13,810 children learned to swim and stay safe through Y programs across our service area. Among them, 1,495 children gained life-saving skills through Safety Around Water, 1,185 received private swim lessons and 182 children participated in mobile swim lessons that brought instruction directly to homes and neighborhoods.
Every child who learns even one new safety skill has a better chance of staying safe. Many arrive on day one nervous to step into the water. By the end of the week, they are reaching for independence, practicing their floats and learning how to stay calm. These small victories are the reason this program has become one of the most significant parts of the Y’s mission.
Safety Around Water reflects the heart of the Y: strengthening communities by giving every child the chance to grow and thrive. When children understand how to stay safe around water, families gain peace of mind, and our community becomes safer for everyone.
Our free drowning prevention programs, like Safety Around Water and Adaptive Swim are available throughout the year. Tampa YMCA swim lessons teach pool safety skills to all swimmers. To learn more about the Tampa Y's Drowning Prevention programs, click here.