The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists drowning as the second leading cause of death in children aged 1 – 14. All children should have the opportunity to learn how to swim no matter of their socioeconomic status.

According to a recent follow-up study by USA Swimming, ” Among the study’s findings, variables most likely to influence African-American and Hispanic/Latino respondents involvement in swimming are:

• Fear of drowning (on the part of children and their parents)
• Family environment, including parents’ swimming ability, parents’ or guardians’ education level, and family exercise habits
• Child’s gender, due to the fact that African-American boys report higher swimming ability than African American girls.
• Family income also was found to be a factor. With all else being equal, children whose family income qualifies them for a free/reduced lunch were twice as likely to be at-risk swimmers. Of parents of at-risk swimmers, 67 percent reported annual household incomes of less than $49,000. Kids with a parent/guardian who fears that the child will drown are 1.5 times more likely to be at risk.