Life Skills in the Water

During 1999–2019, 34,315 persons aged ≤29 years died from drowning in the United States, and drowning death rates decreased from 1.5 to 1.2 per 100,000 population overall. Compared with non-Hispanic White persons, the rate was 2.0 times higher among American Indian or Alaska Native persons and 1.5 times higher among non-Hispanic Black persons. Disparities in drowning death rates between non-Hispanic Black and White persons increased from 2005 to 2019.

– CDC., Persistent Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Fatal Unintentional Drowning Rates Among Persons Aged ≤29 Years — United States, 1999–2019

Swimming, both historically and present day, is a predominantly white sport. Chances are that if you were to attend a swim meet in the United States, the majority of athletes would be white. According to USA Swimming’s 2019 report, only 1.4% of year-round swimmers are identified as African American or Black and 3.5% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

– Ellie Martin., Racial Disparities in Swimming: What Can We Do?

…according to a national research study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation with the University of Memphis and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 60 percent of African American children and 45 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim, compared to 40 percent of Caucasian children.

– the YMCA., New Survey from the YMCA Takes a Deep Dive in Understanding Generational, Racial Inequities in Water Safety Education

“…children are less likely to swim when their parents can’t swim,” said senior author Dr. Michelle Macy…Fewer parents who identified as Latine and Black reported comfort with their own swimming skills (less than 25 percent and 28 percent, respectively), compared to white parents (56 percent).

– Northwestern University., Racial, ethnic disparities in swimming skills found across generations