Give the Gift of Water Safety This Holiday Season
Support the Holiday Lifesaver Match Campaign at UVAC
Every year in the United States, thousands of children are touched by unintentional drownings — a tragedy that often could be prevented with early swim education and water safety skills. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and remains one of the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14, after motor vehicle crashes..
Why Swim Lessons Save Lives
For young children, water can be both a source of joy and a source of danger. The risk is real:
- There are thousands of emergency department visits annually for nonfatal drowning injuries, and a significant majority involve young children under the age of 5.
- Pool and spa‑related drowning fatalities disproportionately affect children under age 5; for example, about 75% of pool‑related fatal drownings among children occur in that age group.
- Many of these incidents happen quickly and silently, especially when a child is near water without adequate skills or supervision.
Water‑safe skills, like comfortable breathing, floating, gliding, and controlled movement in the water, build confidence and reduce risk. That’s why swim lessons are one of the most effective ways to help protect children around water.
About the Holiday Lifesaver Match Campaign
This season, the Upper Valley Aquatic Center has partnered with the Emergency Department physicians at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center to launch the Holiday Lifesaver Match Campaign, a community effort to make swim lessons accessible to local families who might otherwise not be able to afford them.
Here’s how it works:
Each child (ages 3–5) in need of swim lessons is represented by an ornament on the Holiday Lifesaver Tree in the UVAC lobby. Choose an ornament and make a donation of $52.50 at the Welcome Desk. Every donation is matched 100% by DHMC Emergency Department physicians, covering the full $105 cost of a 5‑week beginner swim lesson session.
What the Swim Lessons Teach
Sponsored swim lessons follow the Starfish/Minnows curriculum, giving children essential skills such as:
- Comfort in and around the water
- Controlled breathing (bubbles)
- Assisted glides and floats
- Kick development
- Assisted jump‑ins and wall bobs
These foundational skills help young swimmers build confidence and water safety habits that last a lifetime.
How You Can Help
Stop by the lobby, pick an ornament from the tree, and make your gift at the Welcome Desk. Your generosity will be doubled through the match, providing full swim lesson scholarships for children in our community — and giving the priceless gift of safety.
Thank you for making the season brighter and safer for Upper Valley families. Together, we can help prevent drowning and build stronger, more water‑confident children.