Whether you're headed to the pool or beach this summer, water safety starts long before children actually get near the water.
That’s why Alligator Steps Swim School in Clayton teamed up with first responders to teach children how to stay safe around one of the leading causes of accidental deaths.
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Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children ages 1-4 and the second highest for children between the ages of 5 and 14 across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
In North Carolina, the state sees about 1.2 drowning deaths per 100,000 people.
“Drowning is still the cause of unintentional death of children ages 1-2,” said Larissa Koerschner with Alligator Steps. “It’s shocking. We’re in 2026, and that’s still the case.”
The event ran from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and was free to the public.
“They rotate through five different water safety stations, where they get hands-on exposure,” Koerschner said. “Each instruction is teaching something different.”
The Clayton Fire Department partnered with the swim school and was on-site, giving families a chance to explore a fire truck up close and learn about proper life jacket use and water-related safety practices.
Jay Dailey, whose children were at the event, said his children joined in on the fun on Saturday to stay safe tomorrow.
“Both of our kids are very interested in the water, and so we want to come out and get them acclimated to the pool,” Dailey said.
The swim school says that while the event is over, the school will have swimming classes available all year. You can sign up for classes here.