May Is Water Safety Month for YMCAs Everywhere

We’re proud to join Y’s everywhere in raising awareness, supporting families, and helping everyone stay safe in and around the water.

Official YMCA Water Safety Message

Responding to a text. Answering a work email. Watching a reel. Making a
grocery list. Quick actions that will take just a few seconds, but seconds can quickly become a distraction.
And distractions around the water can have major consequences. In fact, 88 percent of all drownings
happen with at least one adult present. That’s why families should always assign a Water Watcher—an
adult who is not distracted by their phone, conversations, or alcohol—who can maintain constant visual
contact with all children playing in or near the water. This summer, the Y wants all parents and caregivers
to remember, that your eyes can save lives. Phones Down, Eyes Up™ while at the pool, lakefront, or
ocean.
Visit PhonesDownEyesUp.org to take the pledge and learn more about the layers of protection you can
put in place to help keep kids safe around water, this summer and all year long.

Your Ashland Family YMCA and YMCA Camp DeBoer: Keeping Our Community Safe, All Year Long

At the Ashland Family YMCA, water safety isn’t just a seasonal message — it’s part of who we are every single day. We care deeply about our members, our kids, and our community, and we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and watchful environment in and around the water.

When families come to swim, take lessons, or enjoy a summer day by the pool, we want them to feel supported, educated, and confident. Our lifeguards, aquatics instructors, and wellness staff work together year-round to help make water safety second nature for everyone. Because here, we truly believe:

There’s No Place Like This Place.

This May, we’re proud to stand alongside Y’s nationwide to share the Phones Down, Eyes Up™ message — a simple reminder that staying fully present around water can save lives. It’s one of the many layers of protection we promote to help families enjoy a safe and fun summer.

Check out the official 2025 Water Safety PSA Video, a powerful visual message that takes less than a minute to watch but can make a lifelong difference. Please take a moment to view it and share it with others in our community.

Thank you for being part of our Y family. Thank you for caring about safety. And thank you for helping us make every pool, lake, and river experience a safe one for all.

Here’s to a safe, connected, joy-filled summer — right here at your Ashland Family YMCA.