Safety Now, Skills for Life

Every year in our country, approximately 900 children die from drowning, and thousands more are hospitalized as a result of non-fatal drownings. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury for 5- to 14-year-old youth and disproportionally affects children of color. 64% of African American and 45% of Hispanic/Latino children are unable to swim, compared to 40% of Caucasian children. The National Autism Association reports that, from 2009-2011, accidental drowning accounted for approximately 90 percent of total U.S. deaths reported in children with autism ages 14 and younger due to wandering or elopement. Because most of these tragic deaths are preventable, drowning prevention is a priority for YMCA of the USA and YMCAs across the country. 

In 2025, Illinois YMCAs delivered safety around water curriculum to 4,558 children free of charge through the Safety Now, Skills for Life statewide drowning prevention program. This initiative was funded through a Congressionally Directed Spending allocation in the amount of $400,000. Initiated by Senator Tammy Duckworth, funds for this initiative were administered through the Department of Education. 100% of this program was financed with these funds.