Free Swim Safety Lessons Offered To Kids

CLAYTON – Local children in foster care and underserved communities will now have access to free, life-saving swim lessons thanks to a new partnership between the Carolina Swims Foundation and H&L Swim Academy in Clayton.

With drowning remaining one of the leading causes of death among young children, the expansion of this program into Johnston County couldn’t come at a more crucial time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports drowning as the number one cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause for ages 1 to 14.

In response to these statistics, the Carolina Swims Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has provided free swim lessons to children in foster care since 2016, is bringing its mission to Johnston County. Partnering with H&L Swim Academy, which operates out of Riverwood Athletic Club’s indoor pool, the foundation is now offering free monthly swim lessons to help reduce the risk of drowning.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with Carolina Swims Foundation and help them further their impact by expanding into Johnston County,” said Cole Yarborough, owner of H&L Swim Academy. “These are life-saving skills every child should have access to.”

Research shows that formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by up to 88 percent in young children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In North Carolina, an average of 15 to 25 children drown each year, often in private pools, lakes, or rivers.

“Every drowning is preventable,” said Sarah Chaires, founder of the Carolina Swims Foundation and a family nurse practitioner. “Swimming is a survival skill. By offering these lessons at no cost, we’re giving children the tools they need to stay safe around water.”

How to Sign Up

Families can register online at www.carolinaswimsfoundation.org. All swim lessons are fully paid for by the Carolina Swims Foundation, and will be held at H&L Swim Academy’s year-round indoor facility in Clayton.

Tax-deductible donations and sponsorship opportunities are available.