Free swim lessons offered to all 2nd graders in N.J. county after 2 kids drown

Second graders can now take swim lessons for free in Middlesex County.

To help prevent drownings this summer, the county launched a new program that will allow children ages 7 to 9 to take swim lessons for free at select community pools, officials announced last week.

Participants must be county residents in second grade during the current 2023-2024 school year.

Two children died in Middlesex County last month after drowning in local pools. On May 25, a 4-year-old boy died in a residential pool in North Brunswick after police responded to a report that he was found in the water unconscious. The same day, a 2-year-old boy in South Plainfield was found unresponsive in a home pool. The boy died at the hospital later that week.

The free swim lesson program was launched in response to the increase in drownings nationwide, the Middlesex County Commissioner’s office said.

“Last year, my fellow County Commissioners and I were appalled to hear about the many drownings happening not only in New Jersey but throughout the U.S. with people, particularly children, drowning at a higher rate than before the pandemic,” Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios said in a statement.

“The safety of our families is always a priority, and as a parent and grandparent myself, I know that this program will not only make children in Middlesex County safer it will also bring peace of mind to their parents,” Rios said.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States, with over 4,500 people dying due to drowning each year from 2020 to 2022. That is 500 more per year compared to 2019.

Children ages 1 to 4 are at a higher risk for drowning, according to the CDC.

Swim lessons could save lives and provide children with the skills to ensure they know how to help themselves, said Middlesex County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra.

“Learning how to swim provides great physical fitness, builds confidence, and most important, makes our communities safer,” Narra said.

Ten pools in different municipalities throughout the county have been selected as partners in the initiative, officials said.

The pools will be reimbursed through grants to cover the costs of the free swim lessons, the commissioner’s office said.

Depending on the success of the pilot program, the county will consider expanding and funding it in the future, according to the commissioner’s office.

The participating pools where residents can reach out for free swim lessons for second graders are:

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Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com.