Study: Access to swim lessons, facilities must be improved - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

When the pool re-opens tomorrow. the top job will be protecting young swimmers.
     
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children, and some children are more at risk than others.

"I think they should learn to swim at an early age," said Freddie Mims. "I think we've seen four people, young teenagers, African Americans."

That's why Jordan and his older brother will be taking lessons at the YMCA Ransburg Center.

"Comfort in the water is the most important thing, it all starts from there," said John Fero with the Ransburg Center.

A national report found getting that start leaves minority children at a disadvantage.

The Diversity in Swimming Study found that 70% of African American children and 58% of Latino children have low swim skills or no swimming ability, compared to 40% of Caucasian children.

"It's because we don't have the facilities in their neighborhoods," said Mims, who is African American. "They don't have the family support groups to take them out of the neighborhoods."

"It definitely found the disparity between minorities and other groups and their access to swim lessons and access to facilities," Fero said of the study done by the University of Memphis.

The study found that money was only part of the issue. The other part was cultural.

The study found more was needed to promote swimming as a necessary skill with life or death consequences in both the African American and Latino communities.

"It's a life skill that you really can't do without," added Fero.

The Ransburg Center is so committed to that idea, they've partnered with several local churches and other community groups to bus hundreds of kids there this summer so they can learn to swim.

"I think that's really the core of it.  Starting with your own backyard and trying to help," said Ferro.

For Freddie Mims, that means right now with his own grandchildren, as he takes steps to prevent them from becoming a statistic.