YCONNECTION

Connecting you to the YMCA of the Capital area

YMCA OF THE CAPITAL AREA May 2012 www.ymcabatonrouge.org

SAFE SWIMMING SAVES LIVES

Splash into summer with the Y! Every year hundreds of people gather around swimming pools across Baton Rouge to beat the southern heat. Unfortunately, not all of them understand the importance of water safety. May is National Drowning Prevention Month and to help prevent future drownings the Y has provided these safety tips: Be attentive to children at all times in and out of the water, even if they are proficient swimmers. Remember children can easily be injured outside of the water as well as in. Teach your child to always obey the lifeguard. A lifeguards job is to watch out and react to any signs of a possible drowning. This job can be made difficult when children do not obey pool rules. Lifeguards are constantly reminding children not to run on the pool deck. Its understandable for children to be excited to go swimming but running on the pool deck can lead to serious injury. Check the pool temperature before you enter the water. If the water is too cold it can shock your body leading to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Really cold water will slow your muscles, making it difficult to swim. To learn what the pool temperatures are for your YMCA pool visit ymcabatonrouge.org and click on the pool temperatures link on the top right of the page. If your little swimmer is a beginner and still needs a floatation device ask a lifeguard for a lifejacket, especially if they are going into deeper water where they cannot stand in. All YMCA lifejackets are Coast Guard approved and any non-Coast Guard approved floatation devices including arm floaties are easily deflatable and prohibited for Y pools. Continued on page 2

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Bring plenty of water and fluids to drink. Many people are unaware of the dangers of dehydration during swimming. When you swim your body continues to sweat. In the water we do not notice that were sweating but our body does provide us with signs of lost moisture and the need for something to drink. The first symptom is increased thirst and slight fatigue. Second, the body will experience increased breathing rate, increased body temperature and loss of stamina. Lastly, if your body feels week and you become dizzy find a lifeguard right away, by this point you have already begun to feel the effects of dehydration. (Information provided by Livestrong.com) The summer months can consist of frequent thunderstorms and hurricane warnings. If you see any signs of a storm immediately get out of the water. If a storm has been forecasted,lifeguardswillkeepacloseeyeonthe weather and alert you of any storm activity. If the whistle has been blown for everyone to exit the water do not argue with the lifeguard, get out so they can survey the scene. Once everyone is out of the water, the lifeguard will wait about 20 minutes for the storm to pass before letting swimmers back in. This rule also applies to indoor swimming areas. To learn about pool closures due to weather contact the front desk of your local YMCA.

HEALTHY KIDS DAY TAKE ON SUMMER

On April 28, 2012 more than 1,900 YMCAs, along with kids and their families around the nation will join together in celebration for the Ys annual Healthy Kids Day event. The free community event is aimed at teaching kids the importance of healthy habits and physical activity. During Healthy Kids Day, the Y will hold health and wellness screenings, educational demonstrations, provide healthy snacks and more. To coincide with this years theme Take on Summer, children will learn the many different ways to stay fit this summer through games, activities and lots of playtime. Thanks to the success of past Healthy Kids Days, both kids and parents experience the many different ways they can take advantage of the summer months to bond and grow both intellectually and physically, said Kristen Hogan, Marketing Director, YMCA of the Capital Area. YMCAs Healthy Kids Day is the largest health day for kids and families. For more than 20 years, Healthy Kids Day has celebrated kids health and continues to teach healthy habits for kids and families, encourage active play, and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. Sometimes it can take less than 2 minutes after an individual has been fully submerged to drown. Often, this leaves very little time for rescue. Many drowning or near-drowning accidents occur when unattended children fall into swimming pools. One in every 5 drowning victums is a child. For every child that drowns another four are rushed to intensive care due to a pool side related injury according to a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To ensure that less individuals fall victim to drowning its crucial that we advocate water safety throughout our community. By abiding to these simple rules, we can decrease the number of drowning incidents among children in Louisiana.

JOIN US APRIL 28 FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M.

To learn more on how your family can stay healthy this summer visit: ymcabatonrouge.org/healthyfamilyhome

Y- Connection | Connecting you to the YMCA of the Capital Area

RACKETS AND ROLLING

The Paula G. Manship YMCAs Lamar Tennis Center held the Cajun Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament on March 25th. Over 125 participants signed up and competed from various parts of Louisiana. Also participating in the tournament were seven of the worlds top 10 players. The game is played very much like regular tennis except the ball is permitted to bounce twice instead of once. These inspirational players proved that limitations are only present if we set them.

GARDENING FOR A HEALTHY YOU

Upcoming Events:
May 11- May 21: Annual Swimsuit Drive begins! Donate any new or gently worn swimsuits to the YMCA to be donated to a child in need. May 12: Lemonade Day! May 13: Happy Mothers Day. Mothers can visit the Y for free, while enjoying arts and crafts with the kids. May 17: Name Tag Day. Meet new friends at the Y! May 18: Pot Luck for ages 55 & older at the Paula G. Manship YMCA (225.767.9622) from 12 to 1p.m. Parents Night Out at the A.C. Lewis YMCA (225. 924. 3606) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA (225. 272. 9622) from 6 to 9 p.m. May 28: Happy Memorial Day! All YMCA locations will remain open on this day. So, bring the family to swim! May 30: Membership Appreciation Day June 4- July 29: Comming Soon The Y Summer Staycation

Pull out your shovel and dust off your gardening gloves, spring is here! Along with spring comes a lot of gardening and weed pulling, but while youre working in the yard you probably didnt realize all the health benefits of gardening. Along with transforming your yard into a spring oasis, gardening eases stress and keeps you limber while improving your mood. During a recent study done in the Netherlands, scientist found that gardening can fight stress even better than some leisure activities. After finishing a stressful task, two groups of people were instructed to either read indoors or garden for 30 minutes. At the end of the time period the group of people who gardened reported being in a better mood and had lower levels of cortisol the stress hormone. Another study done in Norway found that people who garden also achieved better mental health. The study consisted of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression or persistent low mood. During the study, participants would spend six hours a week growing flowers and vegetables. After three months, half of the participants experienced a measurable improvement in their depression symptoms. Although digging, planting and weeding is hardly pumping iron, gardening is a great form of low-impact exercise especially for those who are older and experience chronic pain. With that said, the nutritional benefit from gardening can help the whole family. Home grown food is the freshest and healthiest food you can ever eat. Several studies also show that those who grow their own food are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Source Health.com

HEALTHY LIVING

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CHARLES W. LAMAR JR. YMCA HOSTED 10 TEAMS AT ROCK THE ROOF
Rock the Roof has become a fun way for Y Members and Program Participants to support the Annual Community Support Campaign, explained Kristen Hogan, Marketing Director of the YMCA of the Capital Area. Rock the Roof is one of many fundraising events the YMCA utilizes to support its Annual Community Support Campaign. This nation wide campaign offers scholarship assistance to citizens of the Baton Rouge community. Through scholarships individuals are given the opportunity to live healthier lives. Every day the Y works diligently with our neighbors to offer everyone, regardless of age, income or background, the opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. About 10 teams played in the YMCAs Rock the Roof, three on three basketball tournament on March 31, 2012. Located on the roof of the LaSalle Garage the tournament raised $11,000 for the Ys Annual Community Support Campaign. Academy Sports and Outdoors, Precore, Mockler Beverage Company, Coca-Cola, Star Service, Inc., River Center, Lake Quick Care and Buffalo Wild Wings sponsored the event.

THANK YOU!

The YMCA of the Capital Area would like to extend a special thank you to all the individuals, local business and companies that donated to the Ys Annual Community Support Campaign. Thanks to your contributions we have been successful in raising $446, 075 for scholarships thus far. Through these scholarships we hope to provide more financial support for youth sports, swimming lessons, summer camp and memberships. To learn more about what your contribution will do for the community and for fellow members visit: ymcabatonrouge.org/ Supportthey

Left: Claude Jarreau, Employee Benefits Consultant, Wright & Percy Insurance Debbie Jacobs, Human Resource Director, YMCA of the Capital Area Right: Chris Francis, Account Executive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Presenting $5,000 check from BCBS to the 2012 Annual Community Support Campaign.