YMCA Awards 18,000 Swim Lesson Scholarships for National Water Safety Month; African Americans Aged 5-14 are 3 Times More Likely to Drown than Whites

Rebecca Dubow writes:

Hi William,

In most parts of the country, the month of May signifies the unofficial start of summer. The weather gets warmer and soon parents and kids alike will flock to public and residential pools and beaches to beat the heat.

But did you know that 3 kids die from drowning every day? Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old, and sadly African American children ages 5 to 14 are three times more likely to drown than their white peers.

That’s why during the month of May, the YMCA of the USA recognizes National Water Safety Month and has pledged to provide more than 18,000 scholarships for free swim lessons to children from underserved communities—with an emphasis on reaching at-risk African American and Hispanic/Latino children—as a part of its Safety Around Water program.

While fatal drowning is a concern for all kids, children of color are disproportionately at-risk. The Y is dedicated to reversing the alarming statistics about youth drowning rates, especially in African American and Hispanic/Latino communities.

Check out the above infographic for some more alarming statistics from the Y about water safety.

We’d love your help spreading the word about the Y’s Safety Around Water program and the important work local Ys do on the ground every day in more than 10,000 communities nationwide to help reverse the disturbing statistics around fatal youth drownings.

Appreciate your consideration and looking forward to your feedback.

Thanks, 

Rebecca