Water Safety Information

 

Summer Water Safety Flyer

Water and Ice Safety Flyer

 

Summer Water Safety Checklist

  • Active Supervision: Always designate an adult as the official “Water Watcher” when children are swimming. This person must keep their eyes on the water at all times without the distraction of phone calls, reading or socializing.
  • Secure Pool Barriers:  Ensure home swimming pools are enclosed by a four-sided fence that is at least four feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates. Keep pool toys out of the water area when not in use so children aren’t tempted to reach for them.
  • Life Jacket Inspection: Ensure all life jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved and fit appropriately based on your child’s current weight. Note that inflatable “water wings,” pool noodles and plastic rafts are toys, not certified life-saving flotation devices.
  • Water Competency: Enroll children in certified, age-appropriate swimming lessons. Ensure your children know baseline survival skills, such as how to step into deep water, return to the surface, float on their back and exit a pool without using a ladder.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Keep a dedicated safety kit near your home water spaces, including a first aid kit, a reaching pole and a charged phone to call 911. Parents and teen caregivers are highly encouraged to maintain up-to-date CPR certification.

Water & Ice Safety Checklist

  • Verify Ice Thickness: Never let children play on ice unless an adult has confirmed it is at least four inches thick of clear, blue ice.
  • Double for Snow-Ice: If the ice is white or opaque, it is only half as strong; it must be at least eight inches thick to be considered safe for walking.
  • Dress in Layers: Ensure children wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one heavy layer.
  • Watch for Wind Chill: Be aware that younger children are at higher risk for frostbite even when temperatures are above freezing. Districts typically suspend outdoor PE or recess when wind chills fall below 20°F.
  • Identify "Bubblers": Warn children to stay away from docks where "bubblers" (de-icers) are used, as they create open water or dangerously thin ice even in sub-zero weather.

Swimming & Summer Water Safety Local Resources

The following organizations across the Madison and Oneida County region provide affordable swimming instruction, water safety clinics, and financial aid options to ensure all children have access to life-saving swimming skills.

1. YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley
The YMCA features seasonal group and private swim instruction for all age brackets, supported bytheir “Changing Lives Financial Assistance Program” for eligible local families.
 

  • Oneida Branch: 701 Seneca Street, Oneida, NY. Phone: (315) 363-7788
     
  • Rome Branch: 301 W. Bloomfield Street, Rome, NY. Phone: (315) 336-3500
     

2. YMCA of Central New York
Provides comprehensive youth aquatics, water competency assessments and sliding-scale swim lesson scholarship opportunities.
 

  • Northwest Family & East Area Branches: Contact regional coordinators for youth summer program placement evaluations and donor-funded lesson assistance details.
     

3. Community Parks & Regional Programs
 

  • City of Oneida Parks & Recreation: Manages community aquatic facilities, scheduling seasonal public swim times and local summer recreation program options. Phone: 315.363.3590
     
  • Oneida County Youth Bureau: Partners with regional recreation centers to maximize summer program access, swimming lessons, and safety resources for children under age 21. Phone: 315.798.5027
     
  • Madison County Public Health: Offers educational guides on drowning prevention, blue-green algae updates for local lakes, and beach safety protocols. Phone: 315.366.2361

OHM BOCES Summer Water Safety & Drowning Prevention

In alignment with regional safety benchmarks and NYS recreational guidelines, Oneida-Hekimer-Madison BOCES provides the following community connections to ensure families can access vital swimming instruction and water safety tools ahead of the summer season.

How to Secure Swim Lessions

To connect your student with a structured swimming program this summer, we recommend:

  1. Reaching out to the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley or the YMCA of Central New York to ask about seasonal youth enrollment windows and financial assistance applications.
  2. Monitoring updates from the Oneida County Youth Bureau or Madison County Health Department for town-sponsored public pool lesson schedules.
  3. Utilizing the American Red Cross “Find a Class” online portal to track down certified Water Safety Instructors (WSI) operating within our immediate zip code.