COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In response to an alarming epidemic where drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under 14, the USA Swimming Foundation will embark on its eighth-annual Make a SplashTour presented by Phillips 66 to save lives through swim lessons.
The USA Swimming Foundation provides the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim – regardless of race, gender or financial circumstances. With more than 750 ‘Make a Splash’ local providers across the country, the USA Swimming Foundation has provided swim lessons for almost 4 million children nationwide and granted more than 4 million for free and reduced-cost swim lessons. The USA Swimming Foundation has set a goal to provide 1 million swim lessons to children annually through its local partner network by December 31, 2017.
“Swimming is a life skill that stays with you for your entire life and I’m honored to work with the USA Swimming Foundation to make an impact in underserved communities,” says Olympic Gold Medalist and USA Swimming Ambassador Missy Franklin. “One parent or child who learns to swim influences themselves, their family, and their children’s children. We need to break the cycle – teach our children to swim and give them the skills they need to build their confidence in the water and life.”
A four-city Make a Splash Tour presented by Phillips 66 throughout April involves Olympic medalists to educate children, parents, communities and civic leaders on the importance of learning to swim. The 2016 tour consists of visits to the following cities:
- Phoenix, Arizona: April 8, 2016 with Olympians Missy Franklin and Rowdy Gaines
- Houston/Nederland/Katy, Texas: April 21 & 22, 2016 with Olympians Cullen Jones and Rowdy Gaines
- Atlanta, Georgia: April 29 & 30, 2016 with Olympians Cullen Jones and Rowdy Gaines
“As someone who nearly succumbed to drowning, I know how learning to swim can change your life,” said Cullen Jones, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the second African-American swimmer to win Olympic gold. “Drowning is preventable and we have a great opportunity to teach children how to be safer in and around the water.”
The Make a Splash Tour consists of in-water swim lesson clinics, town hall sessions, meetings with local community leaders and swimming lesson providers, as well as parents and residents. It also encourages those who can give to donate and provide the opportunity to save children’s lives through the gift of swim lessons. To donate or learn more about the individual city stops, visit: http://www.USASwimmingFoundation.org/.
“A swimming pool can be a fun but intimidating place for children who do not know how to swim,” said Terry Hunt, Phillips 66 Senior Advisor, Corporate Reputation and Brand. “Phillips 66 is committed to safety in all aspects of life and that’s why we are working with the USA Swimming Foundation so children can learn how to protect themselves whenever they are near water.”
Drowning claims the lives of approximately 3,500 people per year, with nearly 25 percent being children under the age of 14. The problem is particularly daunting in ethnically-diverse communities, where the drowning rate is almost three times the national average. In those populations, 70 percent of African-American children and 60 percent of Hispanic children do not know how to swim, according to research by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis.
“With the support of Phillips 66, the USA Swimming Foundation is going into communities to educate people and remove the barriers that may prevent parents and children from learning to swim,” stated Debbie Hesse, Executive Director of the USA Swimming Foundation. “Knowing how to swim can be the difference between life and death, as formal instruction can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent.”
Alarming Drowning Statistics
- Approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with nearly 25 percent children younger than 14
- 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic/Latino children cannot swim, according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis
- Only 19 percent of kids who come from a non-swimming household will ever learn to swim as found by the USA Swimming Foundation
- African-American children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their Caucasian peers, as reported by the CDC
- Drowning is a silent killer—most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time, according to the Present P. Child Drowning study
The Make a Splash Tour has visited more than 40 cities nationwide and the initiative has garnered high-profile media attention, including The TODAY Show, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, CNN Heroes, The Doctors, HBO Real Sports, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, and the NBC News award-winning piece “A Swimmer’s Mission” with journalist Tamron Hall.
Since 1973, Phillips 66’s contributions have supported the USA Swimming community through National Championships and other international competitions, publication of club development materials, and many additional endeavors. The Make a Splash Tour, which the company has sponsored since the program’s inception in 2009, is a natural extension of its dedication to safety.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Swimming.
