Splash into Safety is back in Colleton County. This year’s event will be held at the Colleton County Recreation Center located at 280 Recreation Lane, Walterboro. The thirty-minute sessions will be held from June 15 - 19 and again from June 22 - 26, 2026. Sessions start at 9 AM and continue through 11:40 AM each day. Splash into Safety is a joint effort between HCA - Summerville Hospital, Summerville YMCA, Dorchester County Government and Colleton County Government. The intent of Splash into Safety is to introduce children to water safety basics in rural communities that do not have aquatic facilities. More children between the ages of one and four die from drowning, than any other cause of death. Even more alarming, these deaths occur within six to ten feet of safety. Drowning can happen to anyone, anytime there is access to water and is the second leading cause of death in children ages five to fourteen. According to the CDC, every year in the United States there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths. Additional information on drowning can be found by visiting, https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html.
Drowning is preventable, and thanks to our area partners we are able to continue to offer this life saving education and training. Colleton County Administration and County Council values this program so highly, we purchased our own mobile training pool several years ago. Two lifeguards and five swim instructors participate in the program, teaching children critical skills such as treading water, floating, recovery in case of falling into a body of water, and swim-float-swim. Children are instructed to always ask permission from an adult before entering the water. While Splash into Safety focuses on life-saving skills for children, the curriculum also engages parents in learning important skills, such as CPR, to keep their children safe. Classes are very affordable, the total cost is $5 dollars- just $1 per day. Compared to private lessons that can range upwards of $75. Thanks to the many partnerships and sponsors, this allows everyone, both geographically and financially, to have access to this program. All participants must register at https://summervilleymca.org/splash-into-safety/. Guardians must be present for their children to participate.
