To better combat drowning and a lack of swim instruction, Summerville Family YMCA developed Splash Into Safety — a program meant to reach children in rural and underserved communities that lack access to permanent aquatics facilities.
The initiative utilizes a portable pool that’s 24 feet long, 3 feet deep and holds approximately 7,000 gallons of water. The pool’s metal frame, walls and liner are transported by trailer and assembled directly on-site.
Joe Debney, the president and CEO of the Summerville Family YMCA, said the Y identified a critical need for this program based on both national and state-level drowning statistics, as well as specific challenges facing the low country.
“According to the CDC, South Carolina ranks ninth highest in the nation for pediatric drownings,” said Debney. “Each year in the U.S., there are an estimated 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings and 8,000 nonfatal drownings, with drowning being one of the leading causes of death for children ages 1 to 4.”
Splash Into Safety directly addresses barriers by bringing the pool to communities, ensuring geography and infrastructure don’t prevent children from gaining essential water safety skills.
Creation of Splash Into Safety
Debney said Splash Into Safety is the result of a strategic public-private partnership that began in 2021 when the Y, Summerville Medical Center and Dorchester County Parks & Recreation convened to address rising concerns about childhood drowning and near-drowning incidents in the region.
During these discussions, the group learned neighboring Colleton County owned a mobile pool that had been constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic but had not yet been utilized for programming.
“Recognizing the potential, the three founding partners petitioned Colleton County to allow the mobile pool to be used for life-saving swim instruction in rural areas of Colleton and Dorchester Counties,” said Debney. “Under this collaborative model, the Summerville Family YMCA assumed responsibility for delivering the drowning prevention and swim instruction classes. Dorchester County Parks & Recreation and Summerville Medical Center supported the effort by securing locations, collecting necessary supplies, assisting with pool setup and helping promote the program within the community.”
This initiative marked a first for the region — an innovative, coordinated public-private collaboration focused specifically on reducing drowning and near-drowning deaths among children across the tri-county area. Therefore, by aligning healthcare, local government, and nonprofit expertise around a shared public health goal, the partnership created a scalable and impactful model for community-based water safety education.
Further Program Details
Each time Splash Into Safety is deployed, the pool is constructed on-site by volunteers from Colleton County Parks & Recreation, Dorchester County Parks & Recreation, the Summerville Family YMCA and Summerville Medical Center. Then once assembled, the pool is filled and inspected by a licensed pool contractor and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to ensure proper chemical balance and safety compliance prior to use.
“After receiving clearance, the Summerville Family YMCA delivers week-long swim and water safety classes within the host community,” said Debney. “The program provides 30-minute lessons for children ages 5 to 12 at a cost of just $1 per lesson.”
Certified YMCA swim instructors teach foundational swim skills, water safety education and drowning prevention techniques, while certified lifeguards always monitor the pool. Furthermore, while hosted in specific communities, the program draws participants from multiple rural counties across South Carolina, expanding its reach beyond a single service area.
Positive Community Feedback
In addition, Debney said the feedback from Splash into Safety has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Since its launch in 2023, the program has taught more than 500 children how to swim and understand basic water safety principles,” said Debney. “Demand for the program continues to grow, with an increasing number of communities requesting the mobile pool be brought to their area.”
The program’s success has extended beyond local impact. Multiple YMCAs across the region adopted the Splash Into Safety framework to implement similar programs in their own communities, demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness.
Also, the initiative has also received significant recognition, including:
- 2024 South Carolina House of Representatives Resolution.
- 2024 Colleton County Council Proclamation.
- 2024 Dorchester County Council Proclamation.
- 2024 Town of Summerville Proclamation.
- 2023 South Carolina Parks & Recreation Association Award for Programming Excellence.
- 2023 Outstanding Safety Achievement Award from the South Carolina Association of Counties.
- 2023 South Carolina Healthcare Heroes Award for Community Engagement.
- 2023 Carolinas Healthcare PR & Marketing Society Golden Tusk Award for Special Events.
“These accolades — combined with strong community participation and growing demand — underscore Splash Into Safety’s impact as a successful, mission-driven program that saves lives and strengthens communities,” said Debney.
