MADISON – Third-graders in Madison are learning about water safety with a ‘splash’ at Hogan Family YMCA.

The Heart of the Valley YMCA is sponsoring the SPLASH Water Safety Initiative.

“SPLASH is an anti-drowning initiative of our association, and we believe in the positive power of water safety education to save lives so much that this program is fully funded by Heart of the Valley YMCA as a gift to our community,” Director of Communications Mary Anne Swanstrom said.

This fall, 700 third-graders who are enrolled in Madison City Schools will participate in the three-day water safety classes as part of their school curriculum. “They will learn to ‘reach or throw, don’t go’ when a pal is struggling in the water,” Swanstrom said.

In addition, the Madison youngsters will learn how to survive a capsized boat and how to stay safe in water parks. This training occurs “all within the safe environment of their neighborhood YMCA’s Aquatics Center,” Swanstrom said.

A press conference for SPLASH will be conducted on Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. in the Hogan Family YMCA Aquatics Center. Visitors can observe students in the pool as they engage in a session of the SPLASH program.

After the SPLASH press conference, a question-and-answer time will allow visitors to interact with the YMCA Aquatics Staff, Madison City Schools Superintendent Robby Parker and other officials.

Heart of the Valley YMCA’s corporate office is located at 120 Holmes Ave., Suite 300 in Huntsville. For information, call 256-428-9622, ext. 3008.

Hogan Family YMCA’s address is 130 Park Square Lane in Madison. For more information, call 256-705-9622, email hyfrontdesk@ymcahuntsville.org or visit ymcahuntsville.org/HOGAN or Facebook/Hogan Family YMCA.