Operation Splash provides 860 free swim lessons to children

The Desert Recreation District kicked off the summer pool season on Saturday with its annual Operation Splash.

Through the program the district provides valuable swim lessons to children in the community.

District employees said drowning scares are a problem at some of their community pools.

“Particularly at our Pawly pool and here at Bagdouma pool because of the slides. You know the children get so excited and then they go down and they hit the water, they start to freak out,” said Karina Rios, community services clerk for the Desert Recreation District.

That is why they emphasize the importance of knowing how to swim.

“Some of the things we stress are: never be out of the pool without an adult; never be in the pool without an adult; know your limits when it comes to strength in swimming. Don’t be in the deep end if you don’t think you’re comfortable,” Rios said.

In order to keep these programs running, Kaiser Permanente granted nearly $50,000 to pools in Mecca, Indio and Coachella, funding swim lessons for 860 children.

Which means parents can feel more comfortable when their child is in the pool.

“Just because the water is small doesn’t mean a child can’t drown. So I really feel that parents should take advantage of this and enroll their children in swim lessons. Swim lessons teach children the basic fundamentals of swimming and could potentially save a life,” said Courtney Galvan, a parent.

The program also supports junior lifeguard programs.

I think it’s kind of like a leadership as well because our lifeguards here are leaders over the pool. So those Jr. lifeguards get to shadow them and learn the skills and learn what they’re looking for. And if they learn those skills, they can apply them into a position in the summer as they get older,” Galvan said.

Some young swimmers are already planning to take part.

“When I’m like 15 or so, that’s when you can actually join the junior lifeguard program and everything, so I think I would do that in the future,” Isabella Galvan said.