Free swim lessons for children

Children 5-17 years old can learn how to swim for free

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Free swim lessons are now available to children and teenagers in Duval County.

The lessons are offered to kids between 5- 17 years old who already qualify for free or reduced lunch at school. They are needs based. It's a two week lesson, Monday through Thursday.

Drowning is the number one killed of children under 5 years old and the #2 cause of injury death in older children.

You think it won't happen to your child? Sixty percent of drownings involve young children who wandered away from home and fall or walk into the water.

Lessons are now available for 250 children through a partnership between Safe Kids of Northeast Florida, The Player's Center at Wolfson Children's Hospital and the city of Jacksonville.

The lessons are first come, first serve and there is a limit of two free sessions per family.

"It is so important that the children attend all the classes," explained Cynthia Dennis with Safe Kids of Northeast Florida.

Dennis said in years past, children have attended two, three classes and then didn't complete the rest of the lessons. They can't learn how to swim in just two (or) three lessons. Once they pass the lesson, they can move up to improve their skills.

Another partnership is also offering even more swim lessons through the city of Jacksonville. The mayor's office announced recently 1,800 lessons will be made available to local children at no cost. You can sign up for all the free lessons available through these wonderful partnerships by clicking here. You can also call 904-255-7927 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sign up and ask questions.


About the Author:

Jennifer, who anchors The Morning Shows and is part of the I-TEAM, loves working in her hometown of Jacksonville.