'Make A Splash' Makes A Difference

The “Make A Splash” program, a national child-focused water safety initiative of the USA Swimming Foundation, successfully concluded earlier this month. More than 70 children attended the event at the Roeper School, doubling the overall attendance from last year, said Philip Deely, Roeper's Head of School.

The swimming lessons, which cost $10 per child, were offered to minority and low-income families, the same groups that have the highest number of drownings each year, statistics show. Each child received goggles, a swim cap and an hour of instruction every weekday.

The foundation's research survey of 2,000 Americans showed that nearly 58 percent of Hispanics and 70 percent of African-Americans age 6-16 had “low or no” swimming skills. Statistics show that's nearly double the rate for whites, and that minority children between the ages of 5 and 14 are three times more likely than whites to die in drowning incidents.

The children received individual instruction provided by certified swimming teachers and swim safety training from the U.S. Coast Guard. A presentation by the Michigan African American Scuba Club closed the program to demonstrate to children where a love for swimming can take them in the future.

“Make a Splash” was created by the USA Swimming Foundation in 2007. The coordinated effort brings the nation’s top learn-to-swim resources together to raise awareness of water safety. The program has helped over 300,000 minority children nationally learn how to swim.