A recent survey by USA Swimming found that 57 percent of African-American children are unable to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation is trying to teach children how to swim through its national “Make a Splash” program, with which Olympic hopeful Cullen Jones is actively involved.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, fatal unintentional drowning rates for 5- to 14-year-old African-Americans are 2.6 times higher than those for Caucasian children of similar age.
“We were aware of the drowning statistics, and the disproportionate number of drownings in ethnically diverse communities,” said Chuck Wielgus, USA Swimming’s executive director. “Ultimately, we will break the cycle and reduce the drowning rates by ensuring that children from all ethnic and economic backgrounds have the opportunity to learn how to swim.”
The major factor in children’s inability to swim comes from their parents. The survey indicated that African-American and Hispanic/Latino children are six times more likely to be part of a family in which neither parent nor child can swim. In those families, 91 percent of African-American children will not learn to swim.
Nine people drown each day in the U.S. For more information, visit .
