Water Safety Day is June 6 at Valley Aquatic Center

The Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance (GYWSA) is inviting the public to attend Water Safety Day on Saturday, June 6, at the Valley Aquatic Center, (4381 W. 18th St.) This free, family-friendly event offers a day of fun, learning, and drowning prevention education.

Festivities begin with a Pre-Pool Party from 8 to 10 a.m., featuring music, free hot dogs, giveaways, and interactive water safety booths hosted by local organizations and businesses. In addition, representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be on site offering a free life jacket exchange program. Participants must bring a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket to exchange.

From water safety gear to hands-on demonstrations, this family-friendly event offers a fun and interactive way to learn how to stay safe around water.

The pool will be open for free public swimming from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Throughout the day, attendees can enjoy a variety of safety demonstrations led by staff from the City of Yuma's Fire Department and Parks and Recreation. These include CPR basics, life jacket fittings, swiftwater rescue, and a hands-on "Reach or Throw, Don't Go" presentation-teaching safe ways to assist someone in the water without putting yourself at risk.

"Water Safety Day is a great opportunity for families to come together, enjoy a fun morning at the pool, and learn simple steps that can help prevent drowning," said Kathy Urfer, Special Events Assistant. "We hope families will stop by and leave with helpful reminders they can use all summer long."

The GYWSA continues to promote the National Drowning Prevention Association's Five Layers of Protection: barriers and alarms, supervision, water competency/swimming lessons, life jackets, and emergency preparation. GYWSA works year-round to promote these layers and other water safety initiatives across the Yuma region, helping families build strong habits to prevent drowning.

Summer Swim Season Kicks Off Across Yuma County

In addition to Water Safety Day in Yuma, communities across Yuma County are celebrating the start of the summer swim season with their own events and programming:

The Town of Welton will begin swimming lesson registration on May 26. For pool hours and program details, call 928-785-3348 visit or visit welltonaz.gov.

Stay safe and make the most of the swimming season - wherever you live in Yuma County!

To learn more about water safety or the GYWSA, visit yumaaz.gov/watersafety.