Learning to swim is a life-or-death skill, essential for every child.  Formal swim lessons between ages 1 and 4 can help reduce the risk of drowning by 88% according to a study conducted in 2009. ^[1] Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4 and a leading cause for young people up to 14 years of age. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop this life-or-death skill is of great importance for 4-H in McCracken County, Kentucky. McCracken County 4-H partnered with the FRYSC Coordinator of a local, city, elementary school and a local country club in order to bring an idea to life. All thirty-two fourth graders enrolled in the city schools summer program were taught basic swimming skills over a time span of two weeks. The majority of these students having never had the opportunity to take swim lessons before. While many were scared at first, 100% of the students reported they gained more confidence in a body of water from participating in the program. 

The program was led by two certified lifeguards where basic water knowledge, breathing, floating, kicking, stroke and survival skills were introduced, shown and practiced. School staff accompanying the students helped serve as pool spotters both in and out of the water to ensure the safety of all. 

This was the first time planning and implementing this 4-H Swim and Save program, a program that the local agent has wanted to start since her days of being a 4-H member in McCracken County. As with all programming, the county 4-H program and those involved in "Swim and Save" have discussed how to make the program stronger for the years to come and hope to continue this new club every summer.