WATERTOWN, Connecticut – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection held a press conference at Black Rock State Park on Wednesday to promote safe swimming ahead of the upcoming Fourth of July Independence Day weekend, according to a DEEP news release.

DEEP Vice President Mason Trumble was joined by Stew Leonard Jr., president and CEO of regional supermarket chain Stew Leonard's and co-founder of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation. Representatives from the Greater Waterbury YMCA also attended, the release said.

On Wednesday, DEEP lifeguards conducted a water safety demonstration with children from the Greater Waterbury YMCA at the state park.

According to DEEP, tragic and preventable deaths occur in pools, lakes, rivers or on the shore every year. However, swimmers of all ages can enjoy the water with confidence and safety by following swim safety recommendations and learning to swim properly.

To give more people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor recreational activities Connecticut has to offer, the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation and DEEP have partnered with the YMCA and other organizations to offer free swim lessons to eligible and underprivileged children across the state, according to DEEP.

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The press release states that drowning is the leading cause of death among children between the ages of one and four, despite being preventable. Children who receive swimming lessons are 88% less likely to drown, according to DEEP.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in the release that the department is proud to join with the Stew Leonard Water Safety Foundation and the Greater Waterbury YMCA to raise awareness of the importance of water safety, especially in the days leading up to Independence Day on July 4, as more people head to swimming pools, lakes, rivers or the Connecticut shoreline.

“Swimming is a fundamental skill that every person should learn,” Dykes said in the press release. “DEEP is proud to partner with the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club of New Britain and the Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc. to provide free swim lessons to thousands of children across the state. I urge anyone planning to get in the water this summer to know their limits and follow swimming safety guidelines.”

Stew Leonard Jr. said he lost his 21-month-old son Stewie in a drowning accident during a family reunion in 1989.

“It was not a lack of supervision, it was a FAILURE in supervision,” Leonard Jr. said in the press release. “Enroll your children in swim lessons so they can learn life-saving water skills and always assign an adult to watch the children when they are near the water and put your phones away! When everyone is watching, no one is watching.”

Jim O'Rourke, CEO of the Greater Waterbury YMCA, said in the press release that the partnership with DEEP has enabled more than 4,000 children in Connecticut to have access to swim lessons.

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“Learning to swim is a life-saving skill,” O'Rourke said in the press release.

DEEP's partnership with the YMCAs, Boys & Girls Club of New Britain and the Connecticut Institute for Communities to provide free swim lessons to eligible children in the state is funded with over $1 million in ARPA funding through an approval by the Lamont administration and the Connecticut State Legislature, the release said.

According to DEEP, the YMCA of Greater Waterbury runs a program with 14 YMCAs in the state that has provided over 3,900 swim lessons to 3,229 participants. At the same time, the Connecticut Institute for Communities has provided lessons to 420 participants in the Greater Danbury area through June 2024.

The Boys & Girls Club of New Britain also provided swim lessons to 608 children in New Britain, Hartford and Meriden. Together, the three programs had 4,257 participants and held nearly 5,000 lessons, according to DEEP. All three partners continue to offer swim lessons to eligible participants.

Since its founding in 1990, the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation has raised $6 million to fund approximately 250,000 free and low-cost swimming lessons for underprivileged children and trained thousands of lifeguards in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, according to DEEP.

In Connecticut, the foundation supports 18 learn-to-swim programs that will teach more than 1,500 local children how to swim by 2024. According to DEEP, the Stewie the Duck Swim School provides 10,000 lessons per year, and all of the school's proceeds go toward providing free swim lessons for children in need.

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On Wednesday, speakers recommended that all residents who enjoy themselves in or around the water prioritize safety, which can start with a swim lesson. DEEP said people of all ages should consider signing up for a swim lesson at a local YMCA, city park or recreation department.

DEEP recommends that parents and caregivers keep an eye on their children while they swim, as drowning is quick and silent. Stay within reach of children in the water.

Also, drink responsibly, as excessive alcohol consumption impairs judgment and reaction time. DEEP advises swimming sober, as even prescription drugs can impair judgment.

Also, only swim in designated areas and with a partner if possible. It is also important to know your limits and be aware of your physical fitness and health status.

Children, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. And finally, be aware of underwater hazards. Natural swimming areas may have sudden drop-offs, holes, large rocks, or tree roots that are not easily visible from the surface, so diving and jumping into the water can be dangerous if you don't know what's underneath.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

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