Taylor Scott
May 23, 2016
Capstone Research Paper
When you picture a warm, summer day, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is a family beach trip or a day relaxing at your neighborhood pool with friends. Now, what is the one skill that is necessary in order for those experiences to not become tragic? That would be swimming. Looking around at people you know, you might think, “Well how is that relevant? Everyone I know knows how to swim!” For people in the Woodlawn School community in particular, this is an understandable and expected response; in a poll conducted of Woodlawn faculty and upper school students, where respondents were asked for their estimate of what percent of Americans are unable to swim, 68% believe that no more than 41% of Americans are unable to swim, with over a quarter of total respondents believing the figure is as low as 17%. Meanwhile, a mere 1.47% of respondents were unable to swim. The statistics are actually much more severe than most people realize; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 52% of Americans are unable to swim. There had to be a reason for these drastic statistics and a way to help, so I set out to discover how I can help resolve the widespread issue of Americans not being able to swim. Much of the issue stems from the lack of access for minorities to these amenities and services, as well as a lack of understanding for how important learning to swim is for the individual, the family, the community, and the nation. I eventually concluded that educating parents and members of the community about the importance of swimming as a life skill will ultimately lead to a shift in the societal priority of teaching children how to swim.
To understand how there can be such a disparity in swimming ability between the national average and the Woodlawn community, it is important to understand how demographics has much to do with the situation as a whole. To start with, the history of minority ethnic groups within the United States is no secret. Africans were brought to North America to work on plantations before the American colonies were even independent from Great Britain. Slavery became a more popular labor option in the 19th century, primarily due to the increase of the cost to bring indentured servants to America since it was often easier for the immigrants to have “family members or friends…send money for an immigrant's passage, which could then be repaid in a less formal fashion upon arrival (Gettysburg College). These African slaves were not even treated as second-class citizens; they were treated as property. Although Latino Americans did not face the same issues in regards to slavery in the United States, they have faced discrimination and segregation laws throughout their history as Americans. Even following slavery abolition and the civil rights movement promoting equality among races, minorities struggle today. Their struggles can largely be attributed to the intense segregation faced by previous generations that have deprived respective communities of proper education and equal opportunity.
Urban growth in America has been on the constant rise with the growing national population, with a 12.1% increase in urban population from 2000 to 2010 (United States Census Bureau). The growing population density in cities has led to overcrowding, especially in the less affluent portions of cities. Government housing projects in cities like Memphis and Atlanta are not constructed in the same sustainable way that city apartment buildings in more affluent parts are built; they are built horizontally rather than vertically. Vertical building allows for more space for businesses and construction of recreation sites, such as pools and parks. The less affluent portions of the city do not have nearly the same space for recreation, simply due to the total land area occupied by residences and businesses. Even recreational pools that were built in these areas decades ago were built in a time of segregation; pools built for minorities during this time were not as well constructed as those of the member clubs in the suburbs and were often poorly maintained. To take it a step further, the funds to construct well-maintained, nearby pools for public use in these neighborhoods today is often absent, as many politicians fail to see it as a primary necessity in struggling economic circumstances.
How does urban growth and segregation connect to create the demographic circumstances that have so much to do with more than half of the American population being unable to swim? Statistically speaking, minorities populate American cities more than whites, with 80% of whites living outside of cities and 70% of Latinos and African Americans living in the cities (PBS). Another important thing to consider is that 27.4% of African Americans and 26.6% of Latinos live in poverty, with a staggering 45.8% of African American children under 6 years old growing up in poverty (Economic Policy Institute). These issues with minorities and poverty in urban environments are significant and can be attributed to previous generations having poverty thrust upon them, primarily due to segregation, and future generations can only grow up in a cycle of poverty. That is to say, these impoverished minority groups are living in the same areas in which there is little to no access to well maintained pool facilities, or even swim lessons. Even in cases where there are available pools nearby, because previous generations of minority families had been barred from any access to proper facilities, many parents are nervous to even seek out swimming lessons for their children because they are personally apprehensive around water due to their own inability to swim.
52% of Americans being unable to swim is staggering and concerning alone, but there is even more evidence that points to just how severe this national crisis truly is. On average, there are about 10 deaths per day in the United States due to drowning ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). In children aged 1 to 4, drowning is the second leading cause of death, behind birth defects ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). Oftentimes, drowning in children of such a young age occurs when they wander into a home swimming pool. Also, in children aged 1 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, behind motor vehicle accidents ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). Furthermore, 84% of drowning victims in boating accidents on open water were not wearing lifejackets ("Drowning Risks in Natural Water Settings").
The issue becomes even more pronounced when demographic statistics are brought into the equation; African American children between ages 5 to 19 drown in swimming pools at a rate 5.5 times higher than that of white children of the same age range. In a scientific joint study on the constraints impacting minority swimming participation conducted by the University of Memphis and USA Swimming, 58.2% of white respondents considered themselves to be skilled swimmers, whereas only 31.2% of African American and 42.1% of Latino respondents considered themselves to be skilled swimmers as well (Irwin). The disparity between whites and minorities in swimming skill level is not a coincidence and can certainly be connected to the statistical socioeconomic levels of the two groups. Regardless of statistical socioeconomic statuses of either of the two groups, these national statistics should be much higher for a variety of reasons. In the 21st century, there should not be issues with any American citizens not having access to something as simple as a swimming pool and swimming lessons. It is important for all Americans to understand the vast benefits of teaching all children how to swim.
Many of the short-term benefits of learning to swim should be obvious. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88% (USA Swimming). Swimming is a significant form of exercise, which limits conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, an active body promotes a stronger immune system, allowing a person to stay healthier and avoid illnesses. On the mentality side of things, it is often said that a healthy body promotes a healthy mind, meaning that people are generally happier and better able to think when they are getting the proper amount of exercise to keep them feeling physically well. Self esteem is also significantly impacted when someone partakes in exercise like swimming. People generally feel good about themselves when they look good, and swimming is an exercise that involves every muscle in the body, making swimmers particularly toned and fit. The sense of accomplishment felt after setting a new personal record in a certain event in competitive swimming, or even in having exercised in the pool for thirty minutes for casual swimmers, leaves people excited to swim again and raises their self-esteem.
There has been much research into the effect swimming has on children suffering with autism. Because autistic children often struggle with social interaction in team sports like basketball or soccer, where communication between teammates is an important component of participation, swimming can be a better outlet. Swimming has been proven to benefit autistic children greatly by increasing attention span, acting as a positive social outlet, and diminishing the frequency and severity of repetitive movements characteristic of autism by giving them a healthy distraction (Super Swimmers Foundation). This positive impact on the lives of autistic children improves their quality of life and development as they grow up. Beyond the social side of participating in swimming, it is especially important for autistic children to learn to swim because of the statistical links between autism and drowning. Drowning is the leading cause of death in autistic children and 32% of parents of autistic children have reported a close call with regards to accidental drowning (National Autism Association). Because of the tendency for autistic children to wander, it is vital that these children are proficient swimmers.
Beyond the immediate scope of the benefits of swimming, there are long-term benefits that many people often overlook. Daily news headlines give Americans a sense of the current state of the country; we are in debt and spend billions to fund programs we cannot actually afford. The United States government claims they are $21.7 trillion in debt, but once governmental permanent entitlement programs are brought into the equation, some estimates bring the real national debt to $142 trillion (Scott). This, combined with an aging population that is exceeding the life expectancies of previous generations due to advances in modern medicine and public sanitation, has serious implications on these governmental programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These outdated programs have the United States paying way more money than they actually have. Exactly how much of a problem are the demands of these programs for the United States? In 2014, two thirds of all government spending went to entitlement programs (The Heritage Foundation). This means that instead of improving our infrastructure, national defense, and educational systems, we are using this money on many people in failing health that will only get sicker because of old age, unhealthy lifestyle habits over the years, or a combination of the two. As a nation, we simply cannot afford to care for our aging population the way FDR and Lyndon Johnson’s administrations promised we would do so.
One way to combat the national debt crisis with respect to governmental permanent entitlement programs would be to have a senior population that remains relatively healthy. Therefore, as a nation, we spend less money through these programs due to the decrease in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Prevention is the best medicine; by remaining healthy throughout one’s life, serious conditions can be prevented. Swimming is the most feasible form of exercise to keep the aging population healthy because of its low impact nature. Oftentimes, you find senior citizens ceasing regular exercise because of the perception that their aging joints and muscles can’t physically handle the exercise. Swimming, on the other hand, takes away much of the strain that comes from repeated contact with the ground and changes of direction, making it the perfect form of exercise for the elderly. Furthermore, by using swimming as the primary form of exercise throughout one’s life, there will be less overall strain and damage to body parts such as hips and knees, which are some of the most common surgically replaced body parts among the elderly. This means there are less orthopedic surgeries that we, as a nation, are paying for with Medicare. Having the entire population live their lives as active swimmers is an easy way to lessen the financial burden on the country.
Thankfully, there are programs set in place by various organizations to try to help with this nationwide issue. USA Swimming has been a major player in leading the nationwide push to making access to proper swim instruction possible for all Americans. Their primary initiative, the Make A Splash Foundation, relies on donations and volunteers to bring affordable swim lessons to Americans who would lack the resources to obtain them otherwise. Make A Splash also makes a concerted effort to educating the general community about the importance of teaching children how to swim. The Make A Splash Foundation has contributed to teaching at least 3.4 million American children how to swim (USA Swimming). Another segment of the USA Swimming Foundation is the Goggles for Guppies initiative. With this initiative, swimsuits, caps, and goggles are donated to at risk children so that everyone has access to all the equipment needed to be able to engage in swim lessons, such as those set up through the Make A Splash Foundation.
I came across a local program in Richmond, Virginia by being introduced to Adam Kennedy, a Davidson College alum and the Executive Director of SwimRVA. SwimRVA is a facility located in Richmond, Virginia that serves as a partner for the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make A Splash Foundation (Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership). The support of Learn-To-Swim providers on the local level, like SwimRVA, is what makes the Make A Splash Foundation successful. The YMCA also runs a Splash program, which provides free swim instruction to the community. The efforts of local organizations is a definite step in the right direction towards making access to proper swim instruction possible for all Americans.
Although access is certainly a primary reason why a large portion of the American population is unable to swim, it is undeniable that efforts are being made to eliminate that issue and that the population as a whole needs to take some ownership over this issue as well. Educating the public about why it is important to learn to swim and that water does not have to be a source of panic can go a long way. Parents are often the ones who sign their children up for swim lessons, but if they do not know how to swim, are terrified of water, and are not properly educated about the importance of swimming, they are very unlikely to seek out swim lessons for their children. Even if they do, the nervous energy they give off as they enter the pool deck will only make their children unnecessarily afraid of the water. Proper education will allow parents to see firstly, that learning to swim in a controlled environment is safe, and secondly, that there are countless reasons why learning to swim would be beneficial to their children. A further important point to bring up would be the idea that it is a terrible idea to have a child that cannot swim and take them to an aquatic area with the assumption that they will be entirely safe because there is a lifeguard on duty. Lifeguards are people, and if there is one thing that people are, it is imperfect. Lifeguards cannot see everything all the time, and it is irresponsible to expect them to be perfect and be the difference between the life and death of your child. While lifeguards are trained to perform rescues and save lives every day, counting solely on them for your child’s safety is not good, responsible parenting. The easy solution to this issue is making sure that your child knows how to swim and has the skills to get out of dangerous situations on their own, for the times when the lifeguard cannot see them or there is no adult watching them.
My internship experience was at the Lake Norman YMCA, shadowing Margaret Throckmorton, a swim instructor with a wealth of experience. I spent the majority of my time watching her conduct lessons for children around the age of 3. I was able to see both how she established herself with them to make them comfortable and excited to swim, and the techniques of instruction she used for different children of different swim levels. I learned that there is often great difference in ability between the children; the children who had parents who spent time in the water with them outside of instruction time were generally much stronger than those who only attended swim lessons. I also got the chance to talk with some of the YMCA staff about their outreach programs for low-income communities, such as Splash.
The national issue of such a large portion of the population being unable to swim is something that everyone can help with. There are four main things that every person has the ability to do to help. First, make sure that your own children and family members stay safe around water by knowing how to swim, and when on open water such as a lake or ocean, always wearing a properly fitted life jacket. This protects your family and sets an example for those around you. Second, tell others about why swimming is important. As previously said, education is an easy way to let people see how important and significant the issue is. Third, make sure your community has programs such as Make A Splash present to help with low-income families. Finally, donate to these programs that make swimming an affordable, accessible activity for everyone to participate in. There is a lot of work to do, but there are great programs in place to help with the issue and with community education, much work can be done to create an America where the vast majority of the population is able to swim.
Works Cited
"The Decline of Indentured Servitude." The Decline of Indentured Servitude. Gettysburg College, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Poverty." State of Working America. Economic Policy Institute, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Newsroom Archive." Growth in Urban Population Outpaces Rest of Nation, Census Bureau Reports. United States Census Bureau, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 17 May 2016.
"RACE - The Power of an Illusion." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Drowning Risks in Natural Water Settings." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 June 2012. Web. 17 May 2016.
Irwin, C., R. Irwin, N. Martin, and S. Ross. "Constraints Impacting Minority Swimming Participation PHASE II." Constraints Impacting Minority Swimming Participation PHASE II Irwin, C., Irwin, R., Martin, N. & Ross, S. Department of Health & Sport Sciences (2010): 3-22. 26 May 2010. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Autism and Swimming: Children with Autism Can Benefit From Physical Activity." Activities for Children with Autism and the Benefits of Physical Activity. Super Swimmers Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
Scott, Michael D. "National Debt Crisis." Telephone interview. 16 May 2016.
"Federal Budget in Pictures." Two-Thirds of All Federal Spending Went to Entitlement Programs in 2014. The Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"USA Swimming - What Is the Foundation." USA Swimming - What Is the Foundation. USA Swimming, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"GRAP - Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership." SwimRichmond.org. Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Autism & Safety Facts." National Autism Association RSS. National Autism Association, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
May 23, 2016
Capstone Research Paper
When you picture a warm, summer day, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is a family beach trip or a day relaxing at your neighborhood pool with friends. Now, what is the one skill that is necessary in order for those experiences to not become tragic? That would be swimming. Looking around at people you know, you might think, “Well how is that relevant? Everyone I know knows how to swim!” For people in the Woodlawn School community in particular, this is an understandable and expected response; in a poll conducted of Woodlawn faculty and upper school students, where respondents were asked for their estimate of what percent of Americans are unable to swim, 68% believe that no more than 41% of Americans are unable to swim, with over a quarter of total respondents believing the figure is as low as 17%. Meanwhile, a mere 1.47% of respondents were unable to swim. The statistics are actually much more severe than most people realize; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 52% of Americans are unable to swim. There had to be a reason for these drastic statistics and a way to help, so I set out to discover how I can help resolve the widespread issue of Americans not being able to swim. Much of the issue stems from the lack of access for minorities to these amenities and services, as well as a lack of understanding for how important learning to swim is for the individual, the family, the community, and the nation. I eventually concluded that educating parents and members of the community about the importance of swimming as a life skill will ultimately lead to a shift in the societal priority of teaching children how to swim.
To understand how there can be such a disparity in swimming ability between the national average and the Woodlawn community, it is important to understand how demographics has much to do with the situation as a whole. To start with, the history of minority ethnic groups within the United States is no secret. Africans were brought to North America to work on plantations before the American colonies were even independent from Great Britain. Slavery became a more popular labor option in the 19th century, primarily due to the increase of the cost to bring indentured servants to America since it was often easier for the immigrants to have “family members or friends…send money for an immigrant's passage, which could then be repaid in a less formal fashion upon arrival (Gettysburg College). These African slaves were not even treated as second-class citizens; they were treated as property. Although Latino Americans did not face the same issues in regards to slavery in the United States, they have faced discrimination and segregation laws throughout their history as Americans. Even following slavery abolition and the civil rights movement promoting equality among races, minorities struggle today. Their struggles can largely be attributed to the intense segregation faced by previous generations that have deprived respective communities of proper education and equal opportunity.
Urban growth in America has been on the constant rise with the growing national population, with a 12.1% increase in urban population from 2000 to 2010 (United States Census Bureau). The growing population density in cities has led to overcrowding, especially in the less affluent portions of cities. Government housing projects in cities like Memphis and Atlanta are not constructed in the same sustainable way that city apartment buildings in more affluent parts are built; they are built horizontally rather than vertically. Vertical building allows for more space for businesses and construction of recreation sites, such as pools and parks. The less affluent portions of the city do not have nearly the same space for recreation, simply due to the total land area occupied by residences and businesses. Even recreational pools that were built in these areas decades ago were built in a time of segregation; pools built for minorities during this time were not as well constructed as those of the member clubs in the suburbs and were often poorly maintained. To take it a step further, the funds to construct well-maintained, nearby pools for public use in these neighborhoods today is often absent, as many politicians fail to see it as a primary necessity in struggling economic circumstances.
How does urban growth and segregation connect to create the demographic circumstances that have so much to do with more than half of the American population being unable to swim? Statistically speaking, minorities populate American cities more than whites, with 80% of whites living outside of cities and 70% of Latinos and African Americans living in the cities (PBS). Another important thing to consider is that 27.4% of African Americans and 26.6% of Latinos live in poverty, with a staggering 45.8% of African American children under 6 years old growing up in poverty (Economic Policy Institute). These issues with minorities and poverty in urban environments are significant and can be attributed to previous generations having poverty thrust upon them, primarily due to segregation, and future generations can only grow up in a cycle of poverty. That is to say, these impoverished minority groups are living in the same areas in which there is little to no access to well maintained pool facilities, or even swim lessons. Even in cases where there are available pools nearby, because previous generations of minority families had been barred from any access to proper facilities, many parents are nervous to even seek out swimming lessons for their children because they are personally apprehensive around water due to their own inability to swim.
52% of Americans being unable to swim is staggering and concerning alone, but there is even more evidence that points to just how severe this national crisis truly is. On average, there are about 10 deaths per day in the United States due to drowning ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). In children aged 1 to 4, drowning is the second leading cause of death, behind birth defects ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). Oftentimes, drowning in children of such a young age occurs when they wander into a home swimming pool. Also, in children aged 1 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, behind motor vehicle accidents ("Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts"). Furthermore, 84% of drowning victims in boating accidents on open water were not wearing lifejackets ("Drowning Risks in Natural Water Settings").
The issue becomes even more pronounced when demographic statistics are brought into the equation; African American children between ages 5 to 19 drown in swimming pools at a rate 5.5 times higher than that of white children of the same age range. In a scientific joint study on the constraints impacting minority swimming participation conducted by the University of Memphis and USA Swimming, 58.2% of white respondents considered themselves to be skilled swimmers, whereas only 31.2% of African American and 42.1% of Latino respondents considered themselves to be skilled swimmers as well (Irwin). The disparity between whites and minorities in swimming skill level is not a coincidence and can certainly be connected to the statistical socioeconomic levels of the two groups. Regardless of statistical socioeconomic statuses of either of the two groups, these national statistics should be much higher for a variety of reasons. In the 21st century, there should not be issues with any American citizens not having access to something as simple as a swimming pool and swimming lessons. It is important for all Americans to understand the vast benefits of teaching all children how to swim.
Many of the short-term benefits of learning to swim should be obvious. Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88% (USA Swimming). Swimming is a significant form of exercise, which limits conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Furthermore, an active body promotes a stronger immune system, allowing a person to stay healthier and avoid illnesses. On the mentality side of things, it is often said that a healthy body promotes a healthy mind, meaning that people are generally happier and better able to think when they are getting the proper amount of exercise to keep them feeling physically well. Self esteem is also significantly impacted when someone partakes in exercise like swimming. People generally feel good about themselves when they look good, and swimming is an exercise that involves every muscle in the body, making swimmers particularly toned and fit. The sense of accomplishment felt after setting a new personal record in a certain event in competitive swimming, or even in having exercised in the pool for thirty minutes for casual swimmers, leaves people excited to swim again and raises their self-esteem.
There has been much research into the effect swimming has on children suffering with autism. Because autistic children often struggle with social interaction in team sports like basketball or soccer, where communication between teammates is an important component of participation, swimming can be a better outlet. Swimming has been proven to benefit autistic children greatly by increasing attention span, acting as a positive social outlet, and diminishing the frequency and severity of repetitive movements characteristic of autism by giving them a healthy distraction (Super Swimmers Foundation). This positive impact on the lives of autistic children improves their quality of life and development as they grow up. Beyond the social side of participating in swimming, it is especially important for autistic children to learn to swim because of the statistical links between autism and drowning. Drowning is the leading cause of death in autistic children and 32% of parents of autistic children have reported a close call with regards to accidental drowning (National Autism Association). Because of the tendency for autistic children to wander, it is vital that these children are proficient swimmers.
Beyond the immediate scope of the benefits of swimming, there are long-term benefits that many people often overlook. Daily news headlines give Americans a sense of the current state of the country; we are in debt and spend billions to fund programs we cannot actually afford. The United States government claims they are $21.7 trillion in debt, but once governmental permanent entitlement programs are brought into the equation, some estimates bring the real national debt to $142 trillion (Scott). This, combined with an aging population that is exceeding the life expectancies of previous generations due to advances in modern medicine and public sanitation, has serious implications on these governmental programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These outdated programs have the United States paying way more money than they actually have. Exactly how much of a problem are the demands of these programs for the United States? In 2014, two thirds of all government spending went to entitlement programs (The Heritage Foundation). This means that instead of improving our infrastructure, national defense, and educational systems, we are using this money on many people in failing health that will only get sicker because of old age, unhealthy lifestyle habits over the years, or a combination of the two. As a nation, we simply cannot afford to care for our aging population the way FDR and Lyndon Johnson’s administrations promised we would do so.
One way to combat the national debt crisis with respect to governmental permanent entitlement programs would be to have a senior population that remains relatively healthy. Therefore, as a nation, we spend less money through these programs due to the decrease in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Prevention is the best medicine; by remaining healthy throughout one’s life, serious conditions can be prevented. Swimming is the most feasible form of exercise to keep the aging population healthy because of its low impact nature. Oftentimes, you find senior citizens ceasing regular exercise because of the perception that their aging joints and muscles can’t physically handle the exercise. Swimming, on the other hand, takes away much of the strain that comes from repeated contact with the ground and changes of direction, making it the perfect form of exercise for the elderly. Furthermore, by using swimming as the primary form of exercise throughout one’s life, there will be less overall strain and damage to body parts such as hips and knees, which are some of the most common surgically replaced body parts among the elderly. This means there are less orthopedic surgeries that we, as a nation, are paying for with Medicare. Having the entire population live their lives as active swimmers is an easy way to lessen the financial burden on the country.
Thankfully, there are programs set in place by various organizations to try to help with this nationwide issue. USA Swimming has been a major player in leading the nationwide push to making access to proper swim instruction possible for all Americans. Their primary initiative, the Make A Splash Foundation, relies on donations and volunteers to bring affordable swim lessons to Americans who would lack the resources to obtain them otherwise. Make A Splash also makes a concerted effort to educating the general community about the importance of teaching children how to swim. The Make A Splash Foundation has contributed to teaching at least 3.4 million American children how to swim (USA Swimming). Another segment of the USA Swimming Foundation is the Goggles for Guppies initiative. With this initiative, swimsuits, caps, and goggles are donated to at risk children so that everyone has access to all the equipment needed to be able to engage in swim lessons, such as those set up through the Make A Splash Foundation.
I came across a local program in Richmond, Virginia by being introduced to Adam Kennedy, a Davidson College alum and the Executive Director of SwimRVA. SwimRVA is a facility located in Richmond, Virginia that serves as a partner for the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make A Splash Foundation (Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership). The support of Learn-To-Swim providers on the local level, like SwimRVA, is what makes the Make A Splash Foundation successful. The YMCA also runs a Splash program, which provides free swim instruction to the community. The efforts of local organizations is a definite step in the right direction towards making access to proper swim instruction possible for all Americans.
Although access is certainly a primary reason why a large portion of the American population is unable to swim, it is undeniable that efforts are being made to eliminate that issue and that the population as a whole needs to take some ownership over this issue as well. Educating the public about why it is important to learn to swim and that water does not have to be a source of panic can go a long way. Parents are often the ones who sign their children up for swim lessons, but if they do not know how to swim, are terrified of water, and are not properly educated about the importance of swimming, they are very unlikely to seek out swim lessons for their children. Even if they do, the nervous energy they give off as they enter the pool deck will only make their children unnecessarily afraid of the water. Proper education will allow parents to see firstly, that learning to swim in a controlled environment is safe, and secondly, that there are countless reasons why learning to swim would be beneficial to their children. A further important point to bring up would be the idea that it is a terrible idea to have a child that cannot swim and take them to an aquatic area with the assumption that they will be entirely safe because there is a lifeguard on duty. Lifeguards are people, and if there is one thing that people are, it is imperfect. Lifeguards cannot see everything all the time, and it is irresponsible to expect them to be perfect and be the difference between the life and death of your child. While lifeguards are trained to perform rescues and save lives every day, counting solely on them for your child’s safety is not good, responsible parenting. The easy solution to this issue is making sure that your child knows how to swim and has the skills to get out of dangerous situations on their own, for the times when the lifeguard cannot see them or there is no adult watching them.
My internship experience was at the Lake Norman YMCA, shadowing Margaret Throckmorton, a swim instructor with a wealth of experience. I spent the majority of my time watching her conduct lessons for children around the age of 3. I was able to see both how she established herself with them to make them comfortable and excited to swim, and the techniques of instruction she used for different children of different swim levels. I learned that there is often great difference in ability between the children; the children who had parents who spent time in the water with them outside of instruction time were generally much stronger than those who only attended swim lessons. I also got the chance to talk with some of the YMCA staff about their outreach programs for low-income communities, such as Splash.
The national issue of such a large portion of the population being unable to swim is something that everyone can help with. There are four main things that every person has the ability to do to help. First, make sure that your own children and family members stay safe around water by knowing how to swim, and when on open water such as a lake or ocean, always wearing a properly fitted life jacket. This protects your family and sets an example for those around you. Second, tell others about why swimming is important. As previously said, education is an easy way to let people see how important and significant the issue is. Third, make sure your community has programs such as Make A Splash present to help with low-income families. Finally, donate to these programs that make swimming an affordable, accessible activity for everyone to participate in. There is a lot of work to do, but there are great programs in place to help with the issue and with community education, much work can be done to create an America where the vast majority of the population is able to swim.
Works Cited
"The Decline of Indentured Servitude." The Decline of Indentured Servitude. Gettysburg College, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Poverty." State of Working America. Economic Policy Institute, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Newsroom Archive." Growth in Urban Population Outpaces Rest of Nation, Census Bureau Reports. United States Census Bureau, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 17 May 2016.
"RACE - The Power of an Illusion." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Drowning Risks in Natural Water Settings." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 June 2012. Web. 17 May 2016.
Irwin, C., R. Irwin, N. Martin, and S. Ross. "Constraints Impacting Minority Swimming Participation PHASE II." Constraints Impacting Minority Swimming Participation PHASE II Irwin, C., Irwin, R., Martin, N. & Ross, S. Department of Health & Sport Sciences (2010): 3-22. 26 May 2010. Web. 17 May 2016.
"Autism and Swimming: Children with Autism Can Benefit From Physical Activity." Activities for Children with Autism and the Benefits of Physical Activity. Super Swimmers Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
Scott, Michael D. "National Debt Crisis." Telephone interview. 16 May 2016.
"Federal Budget in Pictures." Two-Thirds of All Federal Spending Went to Entitlement Programs in 2014. The Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"USA Swimming - What Is the Foundation." USA Swimming - What Is the Foundation. USA Swimming, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
"GRAP - Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership." SwimRichmond.org. Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership, n.d. Web. 17 May 2016.
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