Announcing Swim Strong’s Annual Water Safety Awareness Week
Contact:
Shawn Slevin
Shawn.Slevin@SwimStrongFoundation.org
646-269-7897
Announcing Swim Strong’s Annual Water Safety Awareness Week
Swim Strong (www.www.swimstrongfoundation.org) celebrates International Water Safety Awareness Day on May 15 at several New York communities with week-long activities.
We educate New York families about the importance of water safety and swim skills. Accidental drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children – and it is entirely preventable.
Swim Strong is taking the lead to raise awareness about water safety education to ensure that both children and adults in the New Metro area have the tools to be safe in and around water.
To that end, we offer free Learn To Swim classes at these locations:
- Monday, May15 at Bushwick HS (plus FDNY to provide CPR training)
- Wednesday, May 17 at Jamaica HS
- Thursday, May 18 at Brooklyn Sports Club
- Saturday, May 20 at Far Rockaway HS
- Sunday, May 21 at Boys Club Manhattan
About Us
Swim Strong is a 501(c)3 (EIN 37-1526132) community-based, largely volunteer nonprofit organization that is saving and changing lives through the teaching of water safety and strong swim skills.
Since our launch in 2009, we have provided more than 7,300 people with swim lessons, including free lessons to children in need (valued at $526,560 in services).
Swim Strong approaches water safety and swim skills in a holistic way. We offer water safety classes to schools, community and civic organizations. Our swim class programs include lessons for beginners through competitive swimmers.
We have an adaptive program for people with fear of the water, those with autism and with post-traumatic stress. Through our partnerships with the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, we help recruits who need to learn to swim.
Swim Strong is helping New Yorkers lead safer, healthier and more enriched lives through the skills of swimming.
The benefits of water skills extend beyond drowning prevention. Swimming is taught as the basis of several life lessons including good nutrition, self-discipline, team work and resiliency.
Many of our students have gone on to join competitive swim teams, become life guards or swim coaches or even use their swim skills to qualify for military enlistment, NYPD and other careers that require strong swimming skills.
The New York City waterfronts are being developed more now than in the past 50 years. While this growth spurs more opportunities and access to enjoy open water, it also poses dangers for our citizens who are not trained and educated about water safety.
Every day in the U.S., an average of ten people die due to drowning. We want to lower those statistics and make sure New Yorkers are prepared, healthy and safe.
