With this week’s heat wave sending scores of Macomb County residents to area beaches and pools, Huron-Clinton Metroparks is offering free swimming lessons to youngsters and life jackets for adults and kids.

The Metroparks said providing access to free water safety skills and resources are one component to reducing the risks toward drowning during summer months.

“Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 and Black children aged 5—19 are more than five times as likely to drown as white children in the same age group,” Metroparks officials said in a news release.

Huron-Clinton Metroparks has partnered with Macomb Family YMCA in Mount Clemens to offer the swim lessons. Officials said the lessons are in high demand and fill up quickly, so they urge participants to register as soon as possible.

Students will receive five Safety Around Water swim lessons. Each class is 45 minutes Monday thru Friday.

Participants must be ages 5-14 years of age and live in the following zip codes to qualify: 48043, 48035, 48036, 48026, 48066, 48021.

To register, visit https://shorturl.at/EYkjtLessons are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also, residents can receive a free life jacket at an event scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 at Gardner White, 6500 E. 14 Mile Rd. Warren. Thrivent financial advisors is sponsoring the event.

The Macomb County Life Jacket Drop event will include family-friendly activities, educational opportunities and information about Metroparks programming and resources.

Held in partnership with Gardner White, the event includes snacks, games, character visits and music and dancing with SWAG Kids Gym.

Registration is not required but highly suggested at: https://shorturl.at/OoOZb

Another life jacket giveaway takes place 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at Waterford Oaks County Park, 1702 Scott Lake Rd. Waterford.

The event takes place in partnership with Oakland County Parks at the Wheels & Squeals Touch a Truck event. There also will be food trucks, kids activities, music and more during the free event.

The life jacket giveaways are part of Metroparks’ Everyone in the Pool initiative, a region-wide effort to increase swim access and safety for children and families across Southeast Michigan.

More information is available metroparks.com/everyone.