USMS Executive Director Rob Butcher is traveling around the country in support of their Swimming Saves Lives foundation’s “Adult Learn to Swim Month”. This is serious business. Over 33% of American adults cannot swim the length of a 25 yard pool according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Beyond this an average of 10 people drown in the United States every day. The facts are many of these cases are preventable.
Similar to the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash” program which supports child learn to swim outreach initiatives, the Swimming Saves Lives foundation is tackling the issue on the adult side of the spectrum.
For those of us who are fortunate in growing up in the sport swimming is second nature. But there are millions of people don’t have the basic skills to safely enjoy swimming recreationally let alone competitively.
Rob Butcher and his team are assembling an incredible group of swimmers to support their campaign. Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University recently joined their efforts in Indianapolis. Daniels makes swimming a part of his life by actively inserting time into his busy schedule at Purdue. It’s hoped that more adults will not only become water safe, that they too will find swimming an activity that enriches their lives.
For more information visit the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation website.