CUDAHY, Wis.— While the lifeguard shortage makes it more risky to go into the water, YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee is stepping in to make sure people know how to swim.
The Y is hosting several sessions of its "Safety Around Water" program at Sheridan, Lincoln and Wilson Parks.
As a swim coordinator for the YMCA, Dan Locher teaches kids how to swim, float and get to safety.
“When you get exhausted then roll back over to your front to continue swimming to get to your desired destination. As well as learning how to jump in water that could potentially be in over your head and then learning how to jump off the floor to the wall to safety. So even if you are not the most competent swimmer, it gives you tools that can allow you to get back to safety,” said Locher.
Locher has been a swim instructor since he was a teenager.
He said the biggest reward of this profession is seeing someone learning the process of how to swim.
“The world is mostly water and we are mostly water so I feel kinda that everybody should be able to at least function in the water, even if they don’t want to spend a lot of time in the water,” said Locher.
Zachariah Hutchens serves as the aquatics director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee.
He said the “Safety Around Water” program is a partnership between the Y, Milwaukee County Parks and Pool Corp. The partnership helps keep the lessons affordable.
“What we are trying to do is empower kids by teaching them the basics of water survival to try and combat the drownings that happen throughout our city,” said Hutchens.
Hutchens said he believes the kids that are learning to swim today could be the lifeguards of tomorrow.
“Hopefully by getting the kids involved in these programs, we can really instill a love and a joy and being in and around the water because it is such a fun place to be, especially in the hot summers that we get. Everybody wants to be able to cool off so hopefully like I said that they learn to love it. They want to continue and bring that joy and experience to others as they grow up throughout their teens,” said Hutchens.
For Locher, swim lessons provide a simple joy.
“I guess just getting to play in the water all the time," said Locher.
That’s why he said he hopes these kids learn to enjoy the water the same way he did when he was their age.
The YMCA still has more openings for its “Safety Around Water” program. Get more information on how to register, here.