The rise of urban growth in the United States has resulted in a larger urban population than ever before, with an unintended consequence; children are not learning to swim. The urban youth find themselves in a situation that has not faced many humans in history, where they are not in situations where they will be around water often and thus, teaching children to swim is not at the forefront of many parents’ minds, but it should be. The numerous cases of children drowning in their first experience with water, such as a friend’s pool party or a family trip to the beach, are staggering and beg the question; why would you not teach your child how to swim? Educating parents and members of the community about the importance of swimming as a life skill with numerous positive benefits will ultimately lead to a shift in the societal priority in teaching children how to swim.
One of my main points of contact throughout my research has been Adam Kennedy. Adam is a Davidson College alum and the executive director of SwimRVA. SwimRVA, located in Richmond, Virginia, seeks to “elevate swimming in the Richmond region making water safety and aquatic fitness more accessible to all.” Through conversations with Adam, it became clear that, firstly, there is significant historical reason as to why many Americans are unable to swim, and secondly, the reasoning behind the idea that swimming is an important skill extends far beyond just the sole issue of child death by drowning.
The Center for Disease Control is a primary source for information gathering. The CDC has gone through plenty of data mining and has compiled and examined various trends and facts that are helpful in understanding the full scope of this national issue. The various analyses given by the CDC point to this being an issue that, while it affects everyone, is more so common in the minority groups and the impoverished. With 52% of Americans unable to swim, the issue is too widespread to be cast aside as one of the unfortunate facts of the impoverished communities.
Contested Waters is a book by Jeff Wiltse that delves into the history behind American swimming pools and culture surrounding swimming. It points out the significant role that segregation played in America for much of the twentieth century. Such issues with segregation have had long-lasting effects. Segregation has created the main issue of access for many of these populations. Without access to pools, affordable swim lessons, and general education, it is unrealistic to expect these populations to be able to catch up to the populations that have better access.
USA Swimming has launched initiatives to combat this crisis. Most notably, Make a Splash is an important national affiliate that educates and promotes the importance of learning to swim and water safety. Make a Splash has been able to effectively teach more than three million children to swim through millions of dollars worth of donations.
A joint study with the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis was conducted in 2010. In this study, the statistics, facts, and figures of the national swimming condition are analyzed.
Beyond the definite presence of a national issue, there are numerous sources that delve into the other benefits, besides the lifesaving aspect of swimming. Swimming provides a low-impact form of exercise that can be used throughout one's life. In a growing elderly national population, it is best for the senior population to be as healthy as possible, since government programs designed to aid the elderly will eventually bankrupt the country. Swimming is also important for the mental health of the nation, with proven positive impacts in situations such as children with autism.
One of my main points of contact throughout my research has been Adam Kennedy. Adam is a Davidson College alum and the executive director of SwimRVA. SwimRVA, located in Richmond, Virginia, seeks to “elevate swimming in the Richmond region making water safety and aquatic fitness more accessible to all.” Through conversations with Adam, it became clear that, firstly, there is significant historical reason as to why many Americans are unable to swim, and secondly, the reasoning behind the idea that swimming is an important skill extends far beyond just the sole issue of child death by drowning.
The Center for Disease Control is a primary source for information gathering. The CDC has gone through plenty of data mining and has compiled and examined various trends and facts that are helpful in understanding the full scope of this national issue. The various analyses given by the CDC point to this being an issue that, while it affects everyone, is more so common in the minority groups and the impoverished. With 52% of Americans unable to swim, the issue is too widespread to be cast aside as one of the unfortunate facts of the impoverished communities.
Contested Waters is a book by Jeff Wiltse that delves into the history behind American swimming pools and culture surrounding swimming. It points out the significant role that segregation played in America for much of the twentieth century. Such issues with segregation have had long-lasting effects. Segregation has created the main issue of access for many of these populations. Without access to pools, affordable swim lessons, and general education, it is unrealistic to expect these populations to be able to catch up to the populations that have better access.
USA Swimming has launched initiatives to combat this crisis. Most notably, Make a Splash is an important national affiliate that educates and promotes the importance of learning to swim and water safety. Make a Splash has been able to effectively teach more than three million children to swim through millions of dollars worth of donations.
A joint study with the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis was conducted in 2010. In this study, the statistics, facts, and figures of the national swimming condition are analyzed.
Beyond the definite presence of a national issue, there are numerous sources that delve into the other benefits, besides the lifesaving aspect of swimming. Swimming provides a low-impact form of exercise that can be used throughout one's life. In a growing elderly national population, it is best for the senior population to be as healthy as possible, since government programs designed to aid the elderly will eventually bankrupt the country. Swimming is also important for the mental health of the nation, with proven positive impacts in situations such as children with autism.