Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

Maj. Jennifer Stewart, 11th Force Support Squadron operations officer, speaks to swim safety camp attendees at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 7, 2017. The Zac Foundation hosted the swim camp and was created by Brian and Karen Cohn after the loss of their son, Zachary, in a pool accident. It aims to educate parents and children about the importance of swim safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

Children kick their feet in the base pool during a swim safety camp at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 7, 2017. The four-day event was hosted by the Zac Foundation to educate parents and children about the importance of water safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

Children interact with Scruffy, McGruff the Crime Dog’s nephew, during a swim safety camp, hosted by the Joint Base Andrews Youth Center and the Zac Foundation, at JBA, Md., Aug. 7, 2017. During the four-day swim camp, children got the chance to learn about the jobs of first responders, including; policemen, emergency medical services personnel, Red Cross volunteers and fire fighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

William McBrayer, Joint Base Andrews pool manager and swim instructor, assists a swim camp attendee on how to swim with a kickboard during a swim safety camp at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 11, 2017. Swim instructors taught children basic swimming skills including: treading water, paddling, floating on their back and controlled breathing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

Children swim and dive in the deep end of the Joint Base Andrews pool during a swim safety camp at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 11, 2017. The four-day swim camp, hosted by the JBA Youth Center and Zac Foundation, taught children basic swim skills to prepare them for a potentially unsafe water situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Sunshine, swim and safety with JBA youth

A ZAC Camp attendee holds his swim medal following closing ceremonies for a swim safety camp at the base pool at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 11, 2017. Children who attended this years’ ZAC Camp were recognized by their swim instructors and give medals. This was the second year the JBA Youth Center partnered up with the Zac Foundation to spread awareness about water safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gabrielle Spalding)

Swimming is enjoyed by many children during hot summer days. For parents, water safety is paramount.

Due to the popularity and hazards of this activity, the Joint Base Andrews Youth Center and ZAC Foundation teamed up to host a four-day ZAC Camp for 107 children, ages five to nine, at JBA, Aug. 8-11.

This is the second year in a row the camp was held for JBA and the local community. The foundation, which began in 2008 by Karen and Brian Cohn after the loss of their six-year-old son, Zachary, in a swimming accident, holds courses that follow a 4-step process, known as the A, B, C and D’s of water safety.

“A for Adults - always ensure an adult is present when children are near water,” said Vincent Eure, JBA Youth Center section chief. “B for Barriers - make sure there's a fence or gate that protects a pool or water source to keep children out. C is for Classes - take your children to a class so they can learn how to swim and D is for Drains - to make sure before you enter a pool it has been updated with the proper drain component.”

“We’re thrilled to have been able to partner with the ZAC Foundation again,” said Maj. Jennifer Stewart, 11th Force Support Squadron operations officer. “We appreciate their support in bringing this essential program to the Joint Base Andrews community.”

Swim instructors and first responders spent approximately three hours a day with children, either in the pool, in the classroom or interacting with equipment, teaching them basic swimming techniques, the A, B, C and D’s of swimming and how to contact emergency personnel.

“We had a very good time with the kids,” said William McBrayer, JBA pool manager and swim instructor. “You never know when you’ll need to swim. Making sure that [children] know swim safety skills and can handle it on their own, builds them into better people.”