Summer is wrapping up and the kids are getting ready to head back to school. Now is a great time to remind families that water safety skills are a year-round concern. Accidental drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages one to four years old, and the second leading cause of death in children five to 15 years old.

To help parents identify their child’s comfort level in the water, the YMCA is offering free water safety skills assessments for kids of all ages at locations across Chester County. Specific events are listed below and advanced registration is requested.

West Chester Area YMCA - 605 Airport Road, West Chester 

• Tuesday, August 20 from 4 – 5:30 PM

Jennersville YMCA - 880 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove 

• Tuesday, August 27 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM

Upper Main Line YMCA - 1416 Berwyn-Paoli Road, Berwyn

• Thursday, August 29 from 5 – 7 PM

Bring your bathing suits and let our certified swim instructors help you identify your child’s swim skills and the next skills to master. Instructors can also identify the appropriate swim lesson level for your child if you’re interested in enrolling in swim lessons during our fall sessions.

The YMCA has been America’s leading swim instructor for more than 100 years and is the most accessible community resource for swimming lessons and water safety.