As
summer unfolds, maintaining vigilance and adhering to safety guidelines
are essential for enjoying Boston’s waters responsibly.
As summer unfolds and temperatures rise, Bostonians are eagerly anticipating days spent cooling off in local pools, beaches and rivers. While swimming offers a refreshing escape from the heat, ensuring safety should be a top priority for everyone, from families to individuals seeking relaxation and recreation.
In February, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the city of Boston would be adding funding to its water safety program — the city’s Swim Safe initiative. This comes off of a significant investment made by the city to offer free swimming lessons throughout the wintertime.
“As a coastal city, we want to make sure all our young people can safely enjoy our water and pools,” said Wu. “By expanding our Swim Safe partnership, we’re ensuring our youth are also able to explore all their interests to make Boston the best place to raise a family.”
Following its official inception, the Swim Safe initiative has offered free swim lessons to more than 1,000 youth
participants. Previous funding supported free swim lessons in Boston
pools at the YMCA of Greater Boston, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
and Dot-House Health.
The
Swim Safe Boston partnership launched in 2021 in response to the tragic
rise of drownings in Greater Boston. In recent years, Boston has
witnessed a notable uptick in drownings, particularly among children and
young adults. Massachusetts drowning incidents have been on the rise since 2021, with most drowning deaths occurring in children ages 4-9.
The
city’s initiative enhances swim safety by offering free lifeguard
training and job placement opportunities for teenagers in Boston.
Lifeguards are crucial for ensuring the safe operation of pools and
swimming facilities throughout the city.
However,
Boston, a city renowned for its coastal charms and vibrant community
life, faces a stark reality: Not all residents have equal access to
swimming education. This disparity disproportionately affects
marginalized communities, contributing to higher risks of drowning among
children within Black and Latino populations.
By
breaking down financial barriers and providing culturally sensitive
programming, the Swim Safe initiative ensures that swimming education is
accessible to all, regardless of background or income level.
“It is significant that we grasp every chance to educate our
members and the general community about water safety, and what better
way to achieve this than providing free swim lessons?” said Nadine
Jesionek, the aquatic regional operations manager at Boston Centers for
Youth and Families.
“The
Swim Safe initiative has taken away one of the largest barriers and
opened up this opportunity for many who would not have had it prior to
now,” she continued. “It is rewarding to hear some of the stories of the
children who have a new world of exploration and excitement that comes
with learning to swim.”
Places like BCYF work to ensure that children are equipped to mitigate any possible drowning risks.
“We want to be an integral part of providing a much needed life skill of learning to swim in our neighborhoods. “Jesionek said.
According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is a
leading cause of death for children aged 1-4 years and the second
leading cause of death for children aged 5-14. Black children ages 10-14
are more than seven times more likely to drown than white children of
the same age, according to the CDC.
Rip
currents have also become a cause for concern, as six people drowned in
rip currents over a twoday period in Florida this month.
A
rip current is a powerful and narrow current of water that flows
outward from the shore, usually through a gap in sandbars or near
structures like jetties and piers. Rip currents can move at speeds of up
to 8 feet per second, faster than an Olympic swimmer.
In
order to prevent further tragedies caused by drowning, parents must
remember not to leave their children unattended by a body of water, even
if it is just momentary. Furthermore, swimmers should only be in
designated areas with lifeguards whenever possible.
Local
weather forecasts also have a significant impact on water conditions,
so it is vital to check weather conditions for possible rip currents,
strong waves or sudden changes in weather. If caught in a rip current,
it is essential to not panic and to swim parallel to the shore until the
power of the current decreases.
The
city of Boston offers free lifeguard training and job placement for
teenagers to contribute to safe pool operations and waterfront safety.
Jesionek
noted that the city launched a swim safety ad campaign starting Monday,
July 1, sharing summer swim safety tips with local residents on bus
shelters throughout the city, and in addition, is partnering with the
Navy to offer free water safety swim lessons.
As
summer unfolds, maintaining vigilance and adhering to safety guidelines
are essential for enjoying Boston’s waters responsibly.
ON THE WEB
For more information on swimming safety tips, local programs and resources, visit boston.gov/humanservices/swim-safe-boston or contact your nearest community center