Diversity In Aquatics

International Water Safety Day

Chicago, IL

Chicago, IL. (May 15, 2023) - International Water Safety Day (IWSD) is here. The city of Chicago is joining the global campaign to spread awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic and educate communities, especially youth, about water safety and summer lifeguarding opportunities. Over 300,000 CPS students in over 400 schools will receive messaging and materials focused on water safety and lifeguarding at each school. Students at selected schools, Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy and Sarah Goode STEM Academy, will also have a chance to meet and hear from Olympians Cullen Jones (USA) and Janelle Atkinson McClave (JAMAICA). They will be joined by a collegiate swimmer from Notre Dame, Cason Wilburn, as they talk about their experiences, water safety rules, and aquatic careers in a fun and engaging way.

All students in Chicago Public Schools will be able to sign up for a FREE session of Learn to Swim classes through the Chicago City Parks and Recreation (CCPR), and those who are eligible can apply for summer jobs as a lifeguard. Water Safety messaging will also be promoted on billboards across the city of Chicago. Concluding the events of the day will be an evening event to support water safety education with special guests.

Drowning is a public health issue. Statistics shared by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2022 show drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury for school-aged youth ages 5-14. However, anyone can drown. With over 300,000 deaths occurring globally, in the United States, there are an estimated 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings yearly. This averages to approximately 11 drowning deaths per day (CDC, 2022).

Each participating organization is working to change these statistics for its community. Chicago City Parks and Recreation (CCPR) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) along with leading aquatic organizations, the American Red Cross, Diversity In Aquatics, International Water Safety Foundation, Speedo Swim United, USA Swimming, and its local swimming community (LSC) Illinois Swimming are all working together to educate the Chicago community and its leaders about water safety education and drowning prevention.

Chicago Public Schools is the country's third-largest school district, with a population of 35.8% Black and 46.7% Hispanic and Latino students (CPS, 2022). Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-4, and Black children 5-19 drown at rates 5.5 times that of Caucasian children (CDC, 2022). Nearly six out of ten African American, Hispanic, and Latino children cannot swim, which is nearly twice as many as their Caucasian counterparts (CDC, 2022). In addition, there are approximately 8,000 nonfatal drownings, an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day (CDC, 2022)

The work in partnership with these organizations shows one of many examples of how International Water Safety Day is celebrated worldwide to spread awareness about Water Safety and opportunities in aquatics and remember the lives lost due to drowning. Visit chicagoparkdistrict.com for more information and to register for classes and summer opportunities today.