Pools to Schools’ program backstrokes alarming child drowning rates

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — April may be adult learn to swim month but teaching children is just as important.

The City of San Diego’s “Pools to Schools” program provides lifeguards to teach students to swim either at their schools or at a community pool.

Part of the program focuses on communities with low income and minority families.

“I love it, my friends encourage me to swim,” said Zoe Fernanda Morales Medina, a fifth grader at Perry Elementary who is participating in the “Pools for School” program.

The program is gliding its way into kids’ hearts.

“This is really fun being here with them. They teach us so much,” said Anthony Smith, another fifth grader at Perry Elementary School.

In some cases, children are learning to swim for the first time. This includes Morales Medina, a fifth grader who said the lessons encouraged her to overcome her fear of swimming.

“Means I can jump in the pools, and I can swim and I can enjoy swimming, and do fun things like the rest of my friends,” said Medina.

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Smith said the lessons will help get his lap times down.

“I learned that the scooper ones, they said that is not how you swim faster. They said like this and swim like that and then we learned how to float in water to go like this and then we kick off the wall to help us swim faster,” Smith explained.

“(I’m) just a big believer in teaching kids how to swim,” said Robbie DePerro, Perry Elementary School Physical Education teacher.

DePerro made the lessons possible for the first time this year through a grant he secured from the Prevent Drowning Foundation San Diego.

All his third throughout fifth grade classes will be bussed to the Martin Luther King Jr. community pool. The lessons run for two weeks.

Click here to learn about the Prevent Drowning Foundation San Diego.

DePerro said, “Just seeing them smile, we have a lot of mental health issues going on in our country and the medicine is physical activity.”

“Besides being a great activity, it’s a lifesaving skill,” said Sinthya Carranza, the supervising aquatics specialist for city Districts 4, 8 and 9.

Perry Elementary School is in Paradise Valley in District 4.

Carranza said those southern city areas are known as communities of concern, comprised of low income and minority families. Carranza’s goal is giving kids access to pools.

“You have working parents, single parents, transportation issues, so getting the kids to the swimming lessons isn’t always a possibility,” Carranza said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report drowning disparities among racial and ethnic groups.

In swimming pools, Black children ages 10-14 years old drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White Children, according to the CDC.

The CDC also reported Black kids are more likely to drown in public pools, while white kids are more likely to drown in residential pools.

Click here to read for drowning statistics from the CDC.

Carranza said the “Pools to Schools” program is helping backstroke that statistic because it’s done during the school day, creating a better opportunity for the kids to have structured swimming lessons.

“What is the most important lesson you learned during swimming?” FOX 5 Alani Letang asked Morales Medina.

“To be encourage, have that energy, have an amazing time,” she answered.

No matter what your age is, everyone is encouraged to swim. The city offers lessons for all ages, including babies as young as six months with a parent.

The city is having a hiring event where people can learn to swim and get certified as a lifeguard at the same time. Click here for details. Those interested in an aquatics position must apply online in advance to receive an invitation.

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