CDC Finds Over One Third of Black American Adults Do Not Know How to Swim

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently released a study investigating the rate of drowning deaths in the United States. Since 2019, deaths from drowning have increased by 500 deaths in each year from 2020-2022, resulting in over 4,500 deaths by drowning every year. The highest rates of drowning among different racial groups were found among Black Americans, as well as people from American Indian and Alaska Native backgrounds.

According to researchers at the CDC, 36.8 percent of Black adults reported not knowing how to swim, compared to just 15 percent of all adults. Additionally, 63 percent of Black adults reported never taking a swimming lesson; 9 percentage points greater than the rate of all American adults.

The CDC suggests these differences in swimming ability might be linked to differences in access to swimming lessons, such as lessons being too expensive or entirely unavailable in certain communities. The study authors urge policymakers, public health professionals and community leaders to take action to increase the availability of water safety lessons for Americans from all backgrounds. This could include revitalizing public pools, promoting affordable lessons at organizations such as the American Red Cross or YMCA, bringing seasoned swimming training professionals to underserved communities, and hiring diverse aquatic staff.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Graduate Enrollment Surges at Winston-Salem State University

In fall 2024, Winston-Salem State University enrolled 244 new graduate students, an increase of 31.2 percent from the prior year. The HBCU now enrolls nearly 600 graduate students.

Two Black Women College Presidents Announce Their Retirements

Gilda Barbino, president of Olin College of Engineering, and Soraya Coley, president of Cal Poly, Pomona, have announced their plans to retire at the end of this academic year. Both Dr. Barbino and Dr. Coley are the first woman presidents of their institutions.

Norfolk State University to Construct a $118 Million STEM Facility

As part of an ongoing $90 million fundraising campaign, Norfolk State University has announced plans to establish a 131,000-square-foot STEM building to advance its research capabilities and science academic programming.

Two Black Men Selected for Academic Appointments at Universities

The faculty members with new appointments are Christopher Small at Florida State University and Dwight McBride at Washington University in St. Louis.

Featured Jobs