Drowning and Water Deaths

Recent drowning tragedies in the Chicago area remind us that:
 1.  Water is powerful and can kill.
 2.  People need to respect water more and learn how to live with it and other forces of nature.
 3.  Learning to swim is a survival skill. 
 4.  Wearing a life jacket is a good practice. 

Chicago was built on a swamp.  Lake Michigan is large, much like the oceans.  The Chicago River, Salt Creek and the DesPlaines River run through the area.  There are swimming pools in many areas, including apartment complexes where kids who cannot swim hang out unsupervised in the water, and hotel pools where parents don't stay close to their children.  I have seen them and tried teaching some of the children how to float and swim.

I want to encourage you and your children to learn how to swim this year.

Two teenage, black girls--one in Chicago in Lake Michigan last night and one in Bolingbrook, IL a couple of weeks ago--died playing in water.  They did not know how to swim.  News reports said the 15-year old last night was playing with two friends in Lake Michigan when 40 mph winds had been blowing all day.  The water was rough--not appropriate for swimmers, let alone non-swimmers.

Newscasts interviewed friends and the fathers of both girls who had effusive praise for them.  Sadly, the deaths of these young women likely could have been prevented.  Others have died or become paralyzed by diving into water headfirst. The US Center for Disease Control reports nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory  problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g.,  permanent vegetative state).  It is a lack of oxygen to the brain.

The CDC has a website on recreational safety with a webpage devoted to water safety and drowning prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html

The Chicago Defender in a June 30, 2010 article discussed Mr. Cullen Jones, an Olympic gold medalist and American record holder in the 50-meter freestyle, joining forces with the USA Swimming Foundation, ConocoPhillips and the “Make a Splash” program to bring water safety to youth throughout the country.  "Make a Splash" has been around for several years and has helped thousands of kids take swimming lessons nationwide. http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-8130-olympic-swimmer-cullen-jones-brings-water-safety-message-to-chicago.html

The Defender said "Make a Splash" focuses on African-American and Hispanic children, who both have  low levels of swimming proficiency.  70% of African-American and 58% of Hispanic children reported no or low swimming ability in a 2010 study.
The study found three primary reason why Blacks and Hispanics don’t swim:
1.  Lack of parental encouragement
2. Personal appearance such as ashy skin and wet hair.  
3. Fear of drowning

Cullen Jones, who is black, began swimming at an early age after he nearly died in a water park incident.  The incident fueled his desire to use his swimming success to benefit others, in water safety.  I was impressed when I heard him interviewed on National Public Radio July 19, 2010.  He was on a speaking tour to encourage youth to learn how to swim.  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128622285

Jones recommends between 8 and 10 swimming lessons.  He and "Make a Splash"
aren’t trying to create champion swimmers – they just want to  keep kids from drowning while having a great time swimming.  So do I.

Sign up for swimming lessons through your local park district, YMCA, pool, Red Cross, school, gym, club, etc.
YMCA at http://register.ymcachicago.org/program-category/health-and-fitness/aquatics/swim-lessons
Red Cross Water Safety and Swimming and Lifeguarding at:
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=9e7bf837443d0210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default