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Swimming safety lessons for kids arrive in time for summer
Justin Matthews
CLEARWATER, Fla. - May is National Water Safety Month, and organizations across the Bay Area are kicking off programs to help kids learn how to swim and be safe around water.
This comes just in time for summer. Pinellas County Schools partnered up with the Juvenile Welfare Board, Clearwater for Youth, and Stingray and ION Physical Therapy Network to get nearly 200 students free swim lessons at the North Greenwood Recreation Center.
You can find more information here.
The YMCA is also starting its free "Safety Around Water" lessons. These classes fill up fast. For more information on how to sign up, click here.
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Florida hits record for child drownings in 2021
22 of the 98 child drowning deaths in 2021 happened at homes in the Tampa Bay area, according to state data.
Last year, the Tampa YMCA taught almost 14,000 children to swim and be safe around water, which is critical because more children under the age of four drown in Florida than anywhere else in the nation.
PREVIOUS: Child drownings hit record number in Florida
The state of Florida hit a grim record last year for child drownings. There were 98. That’s up from 69 child drownings in 2020 and 65 in 2019.