Aquatics Guide - 2023 - 11

Achieving diverse pool participation
and preventing drowning requires
essential partnerships.
ease Control and Prevention (CDC):
* Drowning death rates for Black
people are 1.5 times higher than
the rates for white people.
* Disparities
are highest among
Black children ages 5 to 6 (rates
2.6 times higher) and ages 10 to
14 (rates 3.6 times higher).
Why the Disparity?
Beale-Tawfeeq and Harvey point to
the realities of social determinants,
as well as systemic factors shaping
conditions of daily life.
" If you're struggling to put food
on the table or thinking about paying
for swimming lessons, you know
what's going to win, " says Harvey.
" Finances are typically one of the
biggest sources of disparity. "
Aquatics directors
in park and
recreation departments with pools
in
underserved communities
are
well-acquainted with social determinants
- and how they can generate
barriers to increasing swimming and
water safety programs.
There are multiple reasons some
are " underserved, "
communities
including:
Awareness
-
" Just
knowing
where to sign up for classes can be a
barrier, " says Ethan Hibbard, aquatics
director for the aquatics division
of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.
" It starts with awareness. "
Equipment - " We do a swimsuit
drive every year, " says Hibbard. " We
can never have enough swimwear.
We always end up running out. "
Transportation - " Getting people
to and from the pool was found to be
the biggest barrier to increasing diversity
in aquatics programs at the Iowa
City Parks and Recreation Department, "
says Kate Connell, aquatic supervisor.
" We have a transit program
set up so if you get to the pool, we will
give you a free pass to get back home. "
Money - Discretionary spending on
activities, such as swimming lessons,
can be scarce in low-income communities.
" We have a massive fundraiser
called 'Sunrise to Sunset.' During this
time, people can come to swim and
pay whatever they wish to enter - it
can be anywhere from $0 to as large a
donation as they want, " says Connell.
Aversion to water - Swim teams
are one way of getting kids in the water.
The aquatics division of the Cincinnati
Recreation Commission runs
youth swim teams at all its locations.
Teams are as small as five members
or as large as 150. Locations rotate
for swim meets, which become big
community events. " Kids get excited,
get a sense of belonging and pride,
and get to socialize with teammates
and competitors, " says Hibbard.
Resourcefulness Is Vital
Park and recreation departments
are savvy in using an array of skills
and strategies to overcome barriers
to diversity in aquatics.
See the big picture - Aquatics
programmers say it's critical to make
sure there is a strong infrastructure
in the community that engages everyone.
Harvey talks of creating an
" ecosystem of water safety. " It's the
path Beale-Tawfeeq followed. First,
children take swim lessons; then
achieve water competency skills;
and then go into junior lifeguard,
lifeguard and swimming instructor
training, so they see a pathway to job
opportunities - and potentially even
a career in aquatics. The " ecosystem "
also includes dry land water safety
training, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
training, and educating parents
and caregivers about water safety.
Collaborations and relationship
building - Achieving diverse pool
participation and drowning prevention
requires essential partnerships
between school districts, community
councils, churches, local and national
nonprofits working with underrepresented
groups, grassroots groups,
community organizations and activists.
For example, the Red Cross and
Diversity in Aquatics partner during
conventions, and now through the
Centennial Campaign, to certify instructors
and educators who can then
pass on swim and lifesaving skills.
" When you're doing this work with
diverse communities, listening and
learning are key - listening to everything
that impacts us as a collective
community. This plays a part in saving
lives, " concludes Beale-Tawfeeq.
Visit redcross.org/Aquatics for more
information about Red Cross aquatics
programs.
Stephanie Shook, CPRP, is Senior
Product Manager of Aquatics and
Instructors for the American Red Cross
(stephanie.shook@redcross.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | A QU AT IC S GUIDE 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
11
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMERICAN RED CROSS
http://www.redcross.org/Aquatics
Aquatics Guide - 2023

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