Approximately 70% of African American Children and 58% of Hispanic Children Report Low or No Swimming Ability Putting Them At Risk of Drowning

Fear, lack of parental encouragement and personal appearance among major factors preventing children from learning to swim; pool access and financial constraints play a lesser role

USA Swimming 2010 study shows that while the summer pool is opening for the summer months across the country, approximately 70% of African American children and 58% of Hispanic children, compared to 40% of Caucasians do not know how to swim. If your child falls in the category of children who cannot swim, they are at risk for drowning. The study found that the “fear of drowning” was the strongest factor as to why parents are not putting their children in swim lessons—even if they are free.

While the study revealed children from lower income families were more inclined to agree that “family budget doesn’t include money for me to take swim lessons,” focus group research found that many parents wouldn’t let kids swim even if lessons were free, a theme that was tested four times in different focus groups. Overall, fear trumped financial concerns across all respondent race groups in low-income families.

According to a mother who participated in a Denver focus group, “You’re already uncomfortable and scared. You’re like, ‘I‘m paying them so I can have heart palpitations on the side-lines. It’s not worth it. It really isn’t. Why should I have to pay money to be afraid?”

Other major variables include lack of parental encouragement in African American and Hispanic families and personal appearance issues (notion that chlorine is bad for African American skin and hair). Minor variables included financial constraints and access to pools.

If you’re pondering whether or not to pay for or allow your child to receive free swimming lessons from a certified instructor, think of the percentage of children who drown annually; according to Time, more than 175,000 kids and teens die annually as a result of drowning.

There are many ways you can prevent your child or a neighbor’s child from drowning, and it’s not forbidding them to go to the pool this summer. Check your local listings for swim lessons, especially free lessons. Your family budget does not have to suffer from taking the necessary preventive measures to ensure your child’s safety at the pool this summer, and every summer.