Articles

Wading into Open or Wild Water for the 1st Time? By Kate Gillwood

Introduction: Swim Strong welcomes our Scottish colleague Kate Gillwood, who helps us understand what we should be thinking about before taking our first open water swim. Are you that person who has been building up the courage to do this for a few months and is now here at the waters edge ready to go. You start to wade in and instinctively take a sharp breath as you toes almost recoil in surprise. Ooft it’s cold!! This sounds like just about any...

Take the Plunge – Just do it!

  "Elite swimmer Matthew Austin Josa talks to us about how young athletes can return to the pool successfully after a Covid hiatus.    Matt started his company, Fearless Athlete, to combat the mental health epidemic in youth athletics.   According to the CDC 2021, 1 in 3 teenagers suffer from depression. Fearless Athlete provides faith based youth performance coaching. Inspiring athletes to break through mental/physical performance barriers." Take the Plunge - Just do it! Athletes! Is it your time to approach the 8 lane, 25y...

THE BENEFITS RESILIENCE BRINGS TO THE TABLE

THE BENEFITS RESILIENCE BRINGS TO THE TABLE       Humanity is going through major challenges that have altered lifestyles dramatically with vast numbers experiencing restrictions including lockdowns. Countries are at various points of the Covid19 continuum creating a fractured world that doesn’t provide citizens with the levels of balance & certainty needed to feel they are in control. These factors are fertile ground for resilience to shine & make the journey through unknown times far more comfortable. Resilience has...

Time to Celebrate: A Message from the Founder

Hello! Swim Strong Foundation began 15 years ago with one mission: to reduce unintended death due to drowning and water-based accidents by providing life-saving swimming skills and water safety education to all children and families regardless of their ability to pay. It’s because of donors like you that we have: Taught more than 10,000 people how to swim Gave more than $1 Million in free swim lessons to underserved families and Veterans needing that support Taught more than 12,000 students our award-winning and...

(Republished) Read About Swim Strong Foundation’s Community Work to End Drowning and more in The Journalist’s Resource Article

Link t0 Article Racial disparities in drowning deaths persist, research shows by Naseem S. Miller, The Journalist's Resource July 23, 2021 Worldwide, at least 235,000 people fatally drown each year, making it one of the leading causes of injury-related death. The U.N. General Assembly has said drowning is "largely unrecognized relative to its impact." Every year, 3,960 people die due to drowning in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's about 11 people a day. While local news stories...

Coach Paul Alerts Us to Losing Muscle Mass with Age and Suggests Ways to Minimize It

  SARCOPENIA – MUSCLE LOSS AS WE AGE with Guest Blogger Paul Barry We lose lean skeletal muscle mass as we age which can create serious issues for us as it is a major component for our movement. Numerous factors can create this situation, but the following are some of the common reasons: Medical conditions. Becoming bedridden. Poor genetic disposition. High numbers of diseases. Muscle tissue changes with age. Commencing a more sedentary lifestyle. Injuries that affect or impair movement capability. Inadequate...

Climate Change and Water Safety: The Interconnectivity of Climate Change in our Lives

Millions of Americans are at risk because of flooding, storms, and wildfires. Climate-related risks are happening where they did not happen in the past. In New York City, we now experience “sunny day flooding”, a phenomenon that has nothing to do with rainfall; but everything to do with super tides.   Florida and Texas have borne the brunt of this type of extreme weather for several years. Home prices in both states have declined between 3-5%.  Think of how it must be for...

Read Coach Paul’s Article: Oxidative Stress– What Is It & Does It Impact Our Health?

Oxidative stress is not an everyday term but many of us have likely heard of Free radicals. Oxidative stress occurs when we have an excess of Free radicals in our body’s cells. Free radicals are oxygen carrying molecules in our body that have an unpaired number of electrons. Free radicals are created from both natural & unnatural causes e.g., The body produces them during normal metabolic processes. Antioxidants play a vital role in neutralising Free radicals by donating an electron...

Read Coach Paul’s Article on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy CBT) is an interesting field within Psychology that we can all utilise to make positive changes in our lives & overall wellbeing across a multitude of areas e.g., Relationships, Mood, OCD, PTSD, Anxiety, Negative Life View, Life Changes, Alcohol & Drug use, Sporting performance. While it is technique used widely by Psychologists & Therapists, the core principles on which it is based are within most people’s abilities to self-direct. Two Meta Studies that both had results compiled together...