Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages 1 to 14. Within this population, children of minorities, or from underserved communities, are more likely to be subject to these statistics. The fatal drowning rate of African American children ages 5 to 14 is nearly three times that of white children (CDC, 2017). This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an on-going community-based swim program offering short-term swim lessons to an underserved population of children ages 4 to 14. In total, 125 children and their parents agreed to participate in the study and completed the program. All children completed pre and post surveys which measured their knowledge and confidence in water safety. Additionally, all children completed pre and post American Red Cross “Learn-to-Swim” assessments. Upon completion of the program, focus group interviews were completed with all children. Our findings revealed the students successfully improved swim skills and water safety knowledge, while also increasing personal confidence in and around the water. Data from the pre and post “Learn-to-Swim” assessments indicates a significant number of participants improved their swimming ability and skill by at least one “Learn-to-Swim” level. The percentage of children in the non-swimming group declined dramatically by completion of the program. In conclusion, a summer swim program through a community led approach can lead to improved skills, knowledge, and character among children in this study over a short period of time. The findings can be applied to similar groups of children in other underserved communities.