Swim For Life teaches 613 area youngsters life-saving skill

ALBANY – When Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler looked to increase participation in an annual summer program that teaches youngsters to swim, he was envisioning an increase to about 500 participants. The actual number came out at more than double the usual 300 to top 600.

For 2024, the program was expanded to more sites, with community organizations providing swimming lessons for children of all ages.

Those numbers represent potential lives saved, Albany YMCA President Dan Gillan said.

“The results of teaching what I call a life skill to kids in our community is truly spectacular,” Gillan said. “(It’s) due to the generosity of Coroner Michael Fowler coordinating the program. It’s a partnership in the community, getting the swimming lessons to the kids.”

The number of youngsters enrolled in the 2024 Swim For Life program came in at 613. The program has been in place since 2017.

Joining the Y this year as sites for swimming lessons were Albany State University, the Albany Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Albany Recreation and Parks Department.

Since its inception, the coroner said he has not had to pronounce a young person dead at the scene of a drowning.

“It’s growing every year,” he said. “It’s evolved every year. We were going for 500 this year, and we ended up with more than 600. That’s the most we ever had.”

Fowler has brought onboard a number of community sponsors to jump in with donations to help fund the program, and on Thursday he distributed checks at the sites where lessons were taught this year.

“Without them (sponsors), we couldn’t get it done,” Gillan said.

Now the coroner is hoping that older people who don’t know how to swim will pick up this life skill.

“We are encouraging the adults to learn to swim, too,” Fowler said.

That is a sentiment shared by Gillan.

“We hear the parents saying they don’t know how to swim,” he said. “That’s how we know there is a need.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
Special Photo

Special Photo