ARC Learn-to-Swim Program Teaches Upstate Children Water Skills and Safety

The mercury is rising, the smell of grilled burgers hangs in the air, and the sound of splashing water can be heard everywhere from Myrtle Beach to Lake Hartwell. Welcome to summer! Many Upstate residents enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities available this time of year; however these outdoor activities hold special health and safety risks, especially for children.

One of the top areas of concern is water safety. According to the CDC, there are nearly 3,500 drowning deaths in the US each year, and one in five drowning victims is a child. In fact, drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death for children. So as many families flock to pools, lakes, and beaches in an attempt to beat the summer heat, it is important that parents take the time to ensure their child’s safety in and around the water. One of the best ways to do this is to enroll them in a water safety course taught by a certified Water Safety Instructor.

The Kiwanis/ Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program is a great option for Greenville families offered free-of-charge by the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina. An eight-day course, Learn-to-Swim teaches children how to be safe in, on, and around the water. The program is geared to children Grades 3-5 who cannot swim. The program teaches fundamental water skills, such as safely entering and exiting the water, basic swimming strokes, submerging and holding breathe, and floating. It also covers safety topics, including safety around aquatic environments, the importance of lifejackets, how to call for help, and safety in the sun.

The Learn-to-Swim program is conducted by certified Water Safety Instructors, who have been trained by the American Red Cross. The instructors use fun activities, drills, and games to teach water skills. Ruth Reid, who has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for nearly 70 years, serves as a Water Safety Instructor for the Learn-to-Swim program. Reid feels the program is vital because it is more than just a swimming lesson. “Water safety is about more than just learning how to swim. Water safety is an attitude.” said Reid.

Since 1984, the program has helped over 8,000 Upstate children learn the importance of water safety, as well as develop fundamental swimming skills. This summer, nearly 50 volunteers from the American Red Cross of the Upstate and over 300 children were involved in the program. Sandra Coleman, of Greenville, enrolled her daughter Shawndra in the Learn-to-Swim program so that Shawndra could safely enjoy the family’s new pool. Shawndra said she had fun swimming with the other children, and “liked learning how to do the backstroke.” Sandra Coleman also volunteered with the program this summer. “Because the Red Cross offered the program for free, I thought it was important to give back,” said Coleman.

The program is typically offered at several locations across Greenville during the summer. This year, Kiwanis/ Red Cross Learn-to-Swim sites were the Life Center Health and Conditioning Club, Lakeside Park, and Westside Park. The courses took place June 7-14. The Kiwanis Club of Greenville and the Greenville Hospital System sponsored the program.

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina touches thousands of lives every year.

Upstate Red Cross Responds to Train Derailment and Two House Fires in 12 Hours

Twenty Trained volunteers and staff with the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina responded to a train derailment around 5:00 PM Thursday evening, June 10 near Liberty, South Carolina. Red Cross provided food, snacks and meals for response workers and evacuees from the surrounding area. A shelter was set up at Eastside Baptist Church in Liberty, South Carolina to shelter evacuees overnight.

The shelter was closed Friday morning, but reopened later that evening. The shelter finally closed Saturday as all evacuees have been allowed to go back to their homes. The American Red Cross will provide snacks, meals and beverages to emergency workers while the relief and clean-up efforts continue, probably through Wednesday.

A resident nearby the accident stated online that she knew it could happen, but did not think it would happen to her and her family. This incident reminds us all that we need to be prepared at home, at work and at school for disasters - they do strike at home. No one ever thinks it will happen to them.

What can you do to be better prepared at home, work, church or school? Sign up your group or family to take a FREE 1 hour Be Ready class that helps to prepare you and your family for disasters that are likely to happen here.

In addition to responding to the train derailment, there 2 house fires last Thursday night in Pickens County. The Red Cross provided over $1500 in emergency assistance to those families. As we continue to work with the fire clients over the coming days to determine their ongoing needs, that amount will increase.

Without the community's generous support, we would not be able to train our volunteers and staff to rise to the occasion during times of disaster. We are supported 100% by the communities we serve. Please consider a gift to help the families that lost their home to a fire or help us train our volunteers today.