Seven-year-old Keajia Hardin swims on her own for the second time in her life at the Campus Hills recreational facility in Durham.
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The statistics are as disturbing as they are stunning: Black children drown at rates almost three times the overall white rate and nearly 60 percent of black children aged 6-15 years old are unable to swim, according to a May 2008 article in “USA Today.”
That is twice the rate of white children in the same age group.
According to the Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention, in all, about 750 children under the age of 14 drown and about 1,000 suffer permanent neurological damage.
“Almost half of all recorded drowning deaths among people aged 5 to 24 are among blacks,” reports the “American Journal of Public Health.”
Some N.C. Central University students say they’ve never learned to swim.
“I don’t swim,” said broadcast media and business freshman Tera Edgerton.
“I just never wanted to learn to swim. I just never liked it.”
Others say they just don’t like getting in the water.
“I don’t swim,” said English sophomore Olivia Scott, who added that she does know how to swim.
“It costs too much money to get my hair done and I feel like chlorine will mess your hair up.”
Political science freshman Shaequan Robinson says the water in swimming pools is dirty.
“I don’t swim because I know people aren’t as clean as I am,” he said.
“It’s just easier not to get in than to get in and be worried that, you know, I got something.”
But experts say that environment and economic class, as well as cultural ones, such as valuing swimming skills, all combine to explain the higher drowning rates.
“Regardless of race, people from poorer families were more likely to drown,” according to a report in “HealthDay Reporter.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention writes that “the physical environment (e.g., access to swimming pools) and a combination of social and cultural issues (e.g., valuing swimming skills and choosing recreational water-related activities)” are prime causes for drownings.
According to the National Institute of Health, higher African-American drowning rates are directly tied to “the availability of swimming lessons.”
“I had a pool when I was little,” said undeclared freshman Rachael Davies, “and I kind of learned how to swim by myself at first. It wasn’t until later on that I took swimming lessons at the YMCA.”
“I took lessons for two weeks when I was 17,” said undeclared freshman Cierra Williams, “and I just recently turned 18.”
There are a number of ways to prevent drowning. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends several:
“Always swim with a buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards whenever possible. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing.”
Perhaps the greatest tip to adhere to is simply learning to swim.
NCCU students can register for basic swimming courses at NCCU.
The courses are offered on Monday and Wednesday from 10-10:50 a.m. and 11-11:50 a.m.
“In this class, Mr. Thornton [Draper] teaches you everything you could possibly know about swimming,” said biology junior Shekinah Elliot.
The University also offers two water aerobics classes in the fall:H20 Conditioning, which is offered at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and Aqua Moves, which is offered at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
Campus Echo Online: See a 7-year-old swim for the second time in her life.
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