5 Reasons Everyone Should Learn to Swim

1. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. among children under 14 and the leading cause of accidental death for children five and under.

2. Of all preschoolers who drown, 70% are in the care of one or both parents at the time and 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.

3. Fully 65% of all preschooler drowning incidents occur in the child’s home pool and 33% occur at the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives…a child can drown in the time it takes to answer a telephone.

4. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers about hidden drowning hazards for small children in and around the home. Recent data shows that a third as many children under age 5 (an average of about 115 annually) drown from other hazards.

5. Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged one to four years.