Studies show drownings disproportionately affect communities of color. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 to 19-year-olds who were Black were five times more likely to drown in a swimming pool compared to their white peers. The USA Swimming Foundation found that 64% of African American children and 45% of Hispanic children have little to no ability to swim. Access to swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%, which is why we prioritize providing free onsite swimming lessons.
We are proud to share the results from the first session of the Club’s IM Swimming program for students aged 5-7. At the beginning of the session, none of the 90 students in the program were able to swim independently. After 8 weeks, 17% of participants are now able to swim independently, and over 35 % can now swim with some assistance! Overall, 86% of participants have advanced from the level they originally started, and 100% have learned important water safety skills and feel more comfortable in the water.