Guest Column

By Laurie Goganzer
President and CEO
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County & Ocean County YMCA

As the weather warms and families begin to plan for summer, now is the time to talk about something too often overlooked: water safety.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In New Jersey, about one in five drowning deaths involve children 14 and younger, says the state Department of Health. And for every child in New Jersey who drowns, another five children are hospitalized for nonfatal submersion injuries.

These tragedies happen quickly and quietly, often in the presence of adults, and in pools, bathtubs, lakes, rivers, the ocean, and even buckets of water.

But here’s the most important part: drowning is preventable.

At the YMCA, we believe every child deserves the chance to be safe in and around water, regardless of their background, income level, or zip code. Yet the reality is, too many children don’t have access to swim lessons or water safety education. According to the CDC, black children ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at rates 7.6 times higher than white children. For many families, barriers like cost, transportation, or lack of access to nearby pools make swimming instruction a luxury they cannot afford.

This is more than a safety issue. It’s about protecting all children.

Water safety is not just about teaching kids to swim—it’s about creating a level playing field where all children can thrive. We must ensure that every child, no matter their circumstances, has the tools to achieve his or her fullest potential.

The YMCA has been a national leader in water safety for over a century, offering swim instruction and lifeguard training to children and adults of all ages. Here in central Jersey where our local Ys hug the state’s coastline, we provide nearly 5,000 swim lessons every year, including Safety Around Water instruction.

Safety Around Water is a free, community-based initiative that teaches critical skills like floating, treading water, and how to respond in an emergency. Vital financial support from community partners like Red Bank RiverCenter and the Jimmy Jimmy Foundation, makes it possible for us offer this life-saving water safety education to third-grade students in Red Bank and Old Bridge.

Through dedicated state funding secured by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, we are also providing free swim lessons to teenage moms and their infants in Freehold.

We know there are far more vulnerable children and adults in need of our support for water safety resources. But we can’t do it alone.

We need sustained public and private investment to reach more children and families. We need elected leaders to champion policies that prioritize youth water safety and require it in school curricula. We need more community partnerships that remove barriers and promote access.

This May, as we recognize National Water Safety Month, I invite families, leaders, and changemakers to join us in this life-saving mission. Whether you advocate for funding, volunteer at a swim program, or share your story—your voice matters.

Let’s not wait for another tragic headline to remind us of what’s at stake. Let’s act now—because every child deserves to be safe in and around water.

Laurie Goganzer is president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County and the Ocean County YMCA, which together deliver youth development, healthy living, and social service programs to nearly 60,000 people in central New Jersey communities.
Learn more about water safety at www.ymcanj.org.