Alief Family YMCA helping families stay safe in the pool

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It is officially swimming season, and the Alief Family YMCA is making sure you and your family are ready.

"To do it for fun, we need to know how to do it well," said mother Jenny Crank.

RELATED: Seniors get movin' with Alief YMCA's 'SilverSneakers' program

The YMCA offers classes to kids as young as 6 months old.

"You want to start them out really early so that they don't have that fear of the water, and they also know the boundaries," explained DeAnna McDougal.

Harris County ranks first in the state for child drownings. And statistics show immigrants are less likely to know how to swim than those born in the country.

That's a big deal in a place like Alief, which many consider to be the most international part of our already diverse area.

So, many classes at the Alief Family YMCA are free, and translators are always available to help.

"Language is not a barrier," explained McDougal. "Financial situations are not barriers."

Want to see more from the heart of your community? Check out your town's stories through ABC13's HTX+ Facebook page.