Community Swim Community Swim LessonsLessonsBy: Keith Benzer, Sarah Van Der Volgen and Emre Celik RTM 300 T/TH 12:30-1:45Building Strong YouthBuilding Strong Youth¾¾The need for swimming lessons among inner The need for swimming lessons among inner city children is a topic rarely addressed. city children is a topic rarely addressed. ¾¾Children from low income families are four times Children from low income families are four times more likely to drown and according to the more likely to drown and according to the Centers for Disease Control Centers for Disease Control ““black children black children drown 2.3 times more often than their white drown 2.3 times more often than their white peers.peers.””¾¾With that in mind starting a Backyard Swimming With that in mind starting a Backyard Swimming program and/or Learn to Swim Free program program and/or Learn to Swim Free program ““will remove barriers that inhibit growth of will remove barriers that inhibit growth of diversity in aquaticsdiversity in aquatics””while also trying to reduce while also trying to reduce the amount of drowning among children growing the amount of drowning among children growing up poverty.up poverty.Facts and ResearchFacts and Research¾¾In 2000, there were 3,482 unintentional drowning in the In 2000, there were 3,482 unintentional drowning in the United States, an average of nine people per day.United States, an average of nine people per day.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention¾¾It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 to 4 nonfatal submersions serious enough to result in to 4 nonfatal submersions serious enough to result in hospitalization. Children who still require hospitalization. Children who still require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they arrive at the emergency department have a poor arrive at the emergency department have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant neurological impairment.significant neurological impairment.American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of PediatricsDrowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of 15. U.S. Centers for Disease Control andPreventionChildren under five and adolescents between the ages of 15-24 have the highest drowning rates. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFacts Continued…Facts ContinuedFacts Continued……¾¾19% of drowning deaths involving children occur 19% of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present. in public pools with certified lifeguards present. Drowning Prevention FoundationDrowning Prevention Foundation¾¾A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under. child age 4 and under. Orange County California Fire Orange County California Fire AuthorityAuthorityMore FactsMore Facts¾¾An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowninghospitalized due to unintentional drowning--related related incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as incidents each year; 15 percent die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability.neurological disability.National Safety CouncilNational Safety Council¾¾Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the Of all preschoolers who drown, 70 percent are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or and 75 percent are missing from sight for five minutes or less.less.Orange County, CA, Fire AuthorityOrange County, CA, Fire Authority¾¾The majority of children who survive (92 percent) are The majority of children who survive (92 percent) are discovered within two minutes following submersion, and discovered within two minutes following submersion, and most children who die (86 percent) are found after 10 most children who die (86 percent) are found after 10 minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain injury.injury.National Safe Kids CampaignNational Safe Kids CampaignGroups at RiskGroups at Risk¾¾Males:Males:In 2003, males accounted for 80% of In 2003, males accounted for 80% of fatal fatal drowningsdrowningsin the United States (CDC in the United States (CDC 2005).2005).¾¾Children:Children:In 2003, 782 children ages 0 to 14 In 2003, 782 children ages 0 to 14 years died from drowning (CDC 2005). years died from drowning (CDC 2005). Although drowning rates have slowly Although drowning rates have slowly declined (declined (BrancheBranche1999), drowning remains 1999), drowning remains the secondthe second--leading cause of injuryleading cause of injury--related related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (CDC death for children ages 1 to 14 years (CDC 2005). 2005). ¾¾African Americans:African Americans:Factors such as the Factors such as the environment (e.g., access to swimming environment (e.g., access to swimming pools) may contribute to the racial pools) may contribute to the racial differences in drowning rates between differences in drowning rates between African Americans and white Americans African Americans and white Americans ((BrancheBrancheet al. 2004). During 2002et al. 2004). During 2002––2003, 2003, the overall agethe overall age--adjusted fatal drowning adjusted fatal drowning rate for African Americans was 1.25 times rate for African Americans was 1.25 times higher than for whites (CDC 2005). higher than for whites (CDC 2005). However, these rates vary by age. However, these rates vary by age.Groups at Risk ContinuedGroups at Risk Continued¾¾During this time, AfricanDuring this time, African--American infants American infants under one year had a fatal drowning rate under one year had a fatal drowning rate slightly higher than