Register now: El Paso swimming lessons aim to prevent summer drownings

• Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of five.
• In the last decade in El Paso, 2016 was the deadliest year for drownings.

Many children are excited about cooling off in a pool during the warmer months, but summer is also when children are most likely to drown, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Drowning is also the leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of five and can happen in almost any amount of water.

This year in El Paso, a 3-year-old child died in a bathtub, according to DFPS.

In 2023, Anthony Leo Malave, also 3 years old, died in 4 feet of water at Camp Cohen Waterpark in Northeast El Paso. His mother, Jessica Weaver, is facing a child-injury charge after witnesses said she was allegedly preoccupied with her cell phone.

Weaver filed a $1 million lawsuit against the city and claimed the death was due to "gross negligence" on the part of the water park and undertrained lifeguards.

Anthony was the only child in El Paso to die that year of drowning, according to DFPS data.

In the last decade in El Paso, 2016 was the deadliest year for drownings. Four children died, including a one-year-old who died in a bucket of water.

Residential pools, spas and hot tubs require barriers or gates to prevent drowning, according to a city ordinance.

Water safety tips for children

Supervising children around water — inside and outside the home — is the best defense against drowning. Here are some other swimming tips from the Drowning Coalition of El Paso:

• Do not rely on substitutes. The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision.
• Teach children the pool area is off-limits without an adult present.
• If a child is missing, always check the pool first.
• Keep toys away from the pool area and keep the deck area free of clutter.
• Empty kiddie pools immediately after use.
• Prevent access to water features: swimming pools, buckets of water, and ponds.
• Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating.
• Stay within arm's reach of an inexperienced swimmer while he or she is in the water.

Swimming Lessons in El Paso:

Swimming lessons are also vital to saving lives and some programs begin training infants at just weeks old. Here are some swimming lessons in El Paso that still have spots available:

YMCA of El Paso

The YMCA of El Paso offers eight stages of swimming lessons, according to its website. Children as young as 6 months can learn to be comfortable in water. In addition to group classes, the Y also offers private and semi-private lessons. Registration can be completed online. While some classes are already full, there are still some spots available.

Link to website: https://elpasoymca.org/aquatics

YWCA of El Paso

The YWCA of El Paso offers private and group lessons for infants, toddlers, and youth at all branches. 79915, 79907, and 79927 zip codes are eligible for $20 off lessons at the Lower Valley Dorothy Woodley Hunt branch. Registration is done by phone.

Link to website: https://www.ywcaelpaso.org/swim-lessons

Various aquatic centers

The city offers Learn-To-Swim programs for babies, children and adults. Classes occur at various aquatic centers, including Marty Robbins, Delta, Armijo and William W. Cowan. Lessons for residents begin at $34 for four sessions and $43 for non-residents. Registration can be done online here.

Link to registration: https://www.elpasotexas.gov/parks/aquatics/aquatic-centers/