The USA Swimming Foundation has named USA Triathlon as a member of the Make a Splash Affiliate Coalition. This partnership was forged in an effort to increase drowning prevention nationwide. The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in American to learn to swim.
The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Affiliate Coalition is a strategic cohort comprised of businesses and organizations who share the common goal of promoting the importance of learning to swim and water safety.
As an Affiliate partner, USA Triathlon will promote and expand the USA Swimming Foundation’s message of learn to swim and water safety. In addition to promotion, USA Triathlon has also agreed to:
- Provide age-appropriate water safety and learn to swim materials to Splash and Dash Youth Aquathlon participants and their families.
- Explore the concept of pre-event clinics to prepare athletes for all potential triathlon environments.
Fifty swim-run events from across the United States comprise the third annual USA Triathlon Splash & Dash Youth Aquathlon Series, which runs from March through November 2014. Open to young athletes between the ages 7-15, the series focuses on participation and having fun rather than competition, and many of the events are not timed.
Debbie Hesse, Executive Director USA Swimming Foundation
“The USA Swimming Foundation is pleased to partner with USA Triathlon and their Splash and Dash Youth Aquathlon Series to promote the Make a Splash initiative,” said USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director Debbie Hesse. “The addition of USA Triathlon to our Affiliate Coalition positively impacts kids across the nation, saving lives through our joint message of learn-to-swim.”
“We are proud to partner with the USA Swimming Foundation to provide the best educational opportunities possible to our youth members,” said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. “Swimming is the barrier to entry in our sport and this partnership will enable significantly more youth to engage in multisport and reap the benefits of the lifestyle.”
Sobering Drowning Statistics
Approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. Drowning is also a silent killer—most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time, according to the Present P. Child Drowning study.
Furthermore, 60-70 percent of black and Hispanic/Latino children have little to no swimming ability, and only 13 percent of kids who come from a non-swimming household will ever learn to swim, according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis. Black children drown at a rate nearly three times higher than their white peers, the CDC reports.
About the USA Swimming Foundation
The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions— in the pool and in life. Whether we’re equipping our children with the life-saving skill of learn-to-swim through our Make a Splash initiative, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of swimming to kids at all levels across the country. To learn more, visit www.usaswimmingfoundation.org.
The USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative is a national child-focused water safety campaign, which aims to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn to swim. Through Make a Splash, the USA Swimming Foundation partners with learn-to-swim providers and water safety advocates across the country to provide swimming lessons and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim. The USA Swimming Foundation has invested millions of dollars to provide grants to qualified Local Partner learn-to-swim programs, to spread national awareness, and to bring together strategic partners to end drowning. To date, more than 2 million children have received the lifesaving gift of swim lessons through the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 600 qualified lesson providers across the nation. To learn more, visit www.makeasplash.org.
About USA Triathlon
Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon – the fastest growing sport in the U.S. Olympic Movement – as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with more than 550,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
This release was provided to SwimSwam courtesy of the USA Swimming Foundation.