As the days get longer and the temp get warmer, you and your family may make spans to head to the pool or lake. It’s important to plan safety first because the water can be dangerous.

In the United States there are 11 fatal drownings and 22 non-fatal drownings each day. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injuries, and it’s especially dangerous for some of the youngest.

Prevention starts with teaching kids how swim. The Duluth Area YMCA offers swim classes to kids as young as 6 months old.

Cheryl Potenburg, the Risk & Safety Manager for the Y, added, “In swimming lessons we tell the kids… that the best time in to wear a life jacket is anytime you are in, on, and around the water. That means at the dock… at the beach.”

Drowning is often silent and can happen within 20 seconds. So it’s important for parents to watch their kids around the water.

The Duluth YMCA will have its lifeguards at the beach this Summer.