First 5 Riverside County funds swim lessons through Corona-Norco Family YMCA
May 25, 2022
NEWS RELEASE
MAY 25, 2022
The Riverside County Children and Families Commission approved more than $250,000 in new funding to support drowning prevention efforts through the Corona-Norco Family YMCA. The contract runs now through the end of June 2023 and is estimated to cover swim lessons for 1,550 children aged 5 and under.
“The Corona-Norco Family YMCA is honored to partner alongside First 5 Riverside County and the City of Corona to ensure the safety of our children around water. The YMCA launched its first swim lessons in 1906 and are proud to continue offering safety around water programming to this day,” said Audrie Echnoz, CEO of Corona-Norco Family YMCA.
While drowning incidents spike during warm summer months, the lessons will be offered year-round to teach children and families how to properly follow water safety. Drowning incidents are the leading cause of death for children ages one through four. In Riverside County in 2021, there were 64 drowning incidents for children five and under, with five of these incidents being fatal.
Each of these tragic occurrences can be avoided with constant supervision when children are in or near a body of water. Providing young children as young as 6 months old with swim lessons that include teaching them how to float on their backs and cry until help arrives further helps prevent drowning.
The contract marks an expansion of First 5 Riverside County’s (F5RC) investment in preventing drowning incidents countywide, including in Jurupa Valley, Temecula, French Valley, and the Desert area.
As of this release, there are no reported water-related fatalities for children in 2022 – and together we can all ensure that number stays at zero for the rest of the year. For additional information regarding F5RC-funded swim lessons throughout the county, please visit https://rccfc.org/Resources/Community-Programs or call (800) 266-3880.
