VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — With the weather warming up across the Commonwealth, many people will be participating in water activities to stay cool in the heat — and Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said water safety should be a top priority.

According to the YMCA, drowning remains as the leading cause of death for children under the age of five. Dyer, along with members of the YMCA, are making sure Virginia Beach residents know the importance of water safety and drowning prevention.

“Virginia Beach has over 700 little bodies in waters all over. And I’ll tell you what, safety is really critical. And I’m just delighted that people are taking the initiative to do something like this,” said Dyer.

On Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m., Dyer is set to proclaim the month of May as Water Safety Month. The event is scheduled to take place at the Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA, located at 4441 South Boulevard.

Dyer said he has seen accidental drownings impact families. “There were some accidental drownings that were tragic and rocked the foundation of a family. Prevention is key to making sure that doesn’t happen,” said Dyer.

YMCA’s Safety Around the Water program will be highlighted during the event, which helps to provide essential swim lessons and life-saving water safety education to children and their families with the goal of reducing the risk of drowning.

“Especially in an area that is surrounded by water, we need to make sure that everybody has access to that,” said Joy Thomen, vice president for aquatics experience for the YMCA.

Water safety demonstrations, including floating, swimming to safety and calling for help, will also take place during the event.

“Part of our drowning prevention program is having kids ask permission before getting in the water, whether that’s a swimming pool, the beach, the lake, the bathtub, the little backyard pool so that somebody knows where they are,” said Thomen. 

For more information on safe swimming, click here.