The kids have returned to school, and so did I! I enjoyed spending an afternoon at one of our Before and After School Y Club programs during the first week of school.

While I was at our Y Club at Christa McAuliffe Elementary, I witnessed firsthand the excitement of the children, the dedication of our associates and the holistic approach that includes everything from academic enrichment, healthy living to social time. I helped students with their homework, then we headed outside to get active on the sports fields. 

With the heat and humidity on the rise, know how to stay cool and healthy this summer.

Here are some tips to help you avoid heat-related illnesses:

As part of the Y’s commitment to keep swimmers safe in and around the water, the Y encourages you to have fun and enjoy the various benefits of swimming, but to always make safety your first priority.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years old.

Water Safety Tips

Take an active role in your child’s safety. Practice these safety tips when in and around the water:

North Kansas City Hospital (NKCH) and the North Kansas City YMCA are pleased to announce the grand opening of the “NKCH Wellness Corner,” an open-concept gathering space designed to bring additional health and wellness programs to YMCA members in the Northland. A public open house and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, May 20, at 11 a.m.

Platte County ranked #1 out of 115 counties in Missouri for quality of life in a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Platte ranked second highest for health factors.

The 2016 County Health Rankings compares differences on a broad range of indicators that affect quality of life and health among almost every county throughout the US. Platte County’s top ranking reflects residents' high priority on health as evidenced by their support for parks, schools, roads, alternate transportation, and safe neighborhoods where they live and work.

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City is looking forward to being able to help more people at risk of developing diabetes, thanks to a $35,000 grant from Sun Life Financial.

The funds will continue to support the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program in the greater Kansas City area. Sun Life has supported the program since it launched in Kansas City in 2014. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is shown to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes – one of the nation’s costliest chronic diseases. 

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City is looking forward to being able to help more people at risk of developing diabetes, thanks to a $35,000 grant from Sun Life Financial.

The funds will continue to support the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program in the greater Kansas City area. Sun Life has supported the program since it launched in Kansas City in 2014. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is shown to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes – one of the nation’s costliest chronic diseases. 

Anyone can fall down--especially in weather like the snow this weekend.

Kathy Armitage, active lifestyles director at Platte County Community Center South operated by the YMCA, is a specialist in working with active older adults. She offers the following reminders to help all ages prevent falls.