To Prevent Drowning Middlesex Co. To Offer Free Swim Lessons To 2nd Graders

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Middlesex County is launching a new program offering free swim lessons to every second grader in the County, to improve safety skills in water activity during the summer. The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday.

This comes after a 4-year-old boy tragically drowned in a backyard pool on Saturday evening, May 25, in North Brunswick. Meanwhile, a 2-year-old boy is currently in critical condition at JFK Hospital after he nearly drowned in a pool in South Plainfield that same day.

The pilot initiative led by the Office of Health Services aims to prevent drowning incidents by equipping children with essential swimming skills and educating them about water safety. Eleven municipal pools and nonprofit organizations are participating in this program.

“Last year, my fellow County Commissioners and I were appalled to hear about the many drownings happening not only in New Jersey but throughout the U.S. with people, particularly children, drowning at a higher rate than before the pandemic. We wondered if there was something we could do to help increase access to basic swimming lessons,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.

“The safety of our families is always a priority, and as a parent and grandparent myself, I know that this program will not only make children in Middlesex County safer it will also bring peace of mind to their parents.”

As part of this program, the Middlesex County Office of Health Services will work with Municipal partners to reimburse municipal pools and nonprofits the cost of providing these free lessons. Each Municipality can apply for grant funds to cover fees charged to individuals or family for swimming lessons.

County residents can reach out by calling or emailing participating pools for free lessons. They include:

• RWJ Fitness and Wellness, 60 Cooke Avenue, Carteret, NJ, 07008 | 732-541-2333
• Crystal Springs Family Water Park, 380 Dunhams Corner Road, East Brunswick, NJ, 08816 | crystalsprings@eastbrunswick.org
• Brookside Swim Club, 41 Washington Avenue, Milltown, NJ, 08850 | 732-828-9885
• Milltown Boro Pool, John F Kennedy Drive, 61 Violet Terrace, Milltown, NJ, 08850 | 732-828-8231
• RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center New Brunswick, 100 Kirkpatrick Street #201, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901 | 732-873-1222
• North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick Township, NJ, 08902 | 732-247-0922 Ext. 475
• Old Bridge YMCA, 1 Mannino Park Drive, Old Bridge, NJ, 08857 | 732-727-0704
• Raritan Bay YMCA, 357 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ, 08861
• YMCA at The Piscataway Community Center, 520 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ, 07008 | 732-442-3632
• South Amboy Branch YMCA, 200 John T O'Leary Boulevard, South Amboy, NJ, 08879 | 732-553-9622
• Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ, 07095 | 732-596-4000

“By investing in water safety education, we are fostering a culture of safety and investing in the future of our community. This is in keeping with our overall commitment to improving safety and quality of life for our residents,” County Commissioner Charles Kenny said.

“I want to thank everyone in the Middlesex County Office of Health Services who helped put this pilot program together, and I want to thank all of the swim instructors, coaches, and lifeguards for helping cultivate this community of caution in the water. Without you, this program would not be possible.”