Florida Students Bused to Water-Safety Classes

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In 2013, Florida (24.1% Latino) had the highest drowning rate of 1- to 4-year-olds and the second highest for 1- to 14-year-olds.  Near-drowning accidents left three out of four victims suffering brain damage.

Today, 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Latino children cannot swim, compared to 40 percent of white children.

Low-income and Latino kids face additional barriers to access physical activity opportunities, such as swimming facilities; therefore they have a disproportionately higher risk of drowning and high risk of obesity and obesity-related disease.

SWIM Central aims to reduce the drowning and near-drowning rate and teach young school children water-safety education.

Beginning with $82,000 as part of the Broward County (27.5% Latino) Parks and Recreation, SWIN Central has received additional funding and grants from the Broward County School Board, the Florida legislature, and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County for in-school pre-K, kindergarten, and first-grade water-safety education and instruction, as well as a community outreach program, recruitment and training of instructors. The county’s 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond Program provided $19 million for 18 new and/or improved aquatic facilities.

Swimming facilities are key!

SWIM Central likely would not be able to bus students from 180 elementary schools for their 10 free 30-minute water-safety classes, during the school day, over a two-week period without quality swimming facilities, but they do.

Accessibility is also key!

446,000 Broward County students likely would not have been able to participate in water-safety classes without transportation during the school day to free classes, but they did.

In order to build a culture of swimming, a culture of activity, and culture of health, communities must provide both swimming facilities and swimming lessons, and they must be accessible for all kids.

Learn more about SWIM Central here.

Read about a Broward County teacher that enrolled her special need students in SWIM Central here.