Summer and swimming in Massachusetts go hand and hand. But for many, learning to swim is a challenge.
Accidental drownings is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 in the United States, ahead of car crashes and cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Drowning deaths are one of the most preventable causes of death, and yet in children 1-4, drowning deaths rose 28% between 2019 and 2022, according to the CDC. And it falls hardest on children that can least afford to learn to swim.
There are also racial disparities for drowning fatalities, with Black and Native American children experiencing significantly higher rates of fatal drowning compared to other groups. Black children drown three times more often than white children, and Native American children drown two to three times more often.
Swim lessons are the key to prevention for everyone.
“It’s not a luxury, and it shouldn’t be deemed dependent on what zip code that you live in,” said Dru Douillette-Belli, vice president of operations at the YMCA of Greater Boston.
He said evidence shows that swim lessons significantly reduce the risk of drowning and it’s a life skill that needs to be taught to everyone.
“We work with multiple partners and community partnerships to remove those barriers for participation, as well as the YMCA providing financial assistance. We’re especially grateful for the support from the City of Boston through Swim Safe Boston, which helps expand access to swim lessons and water safety education for Boston youth and families,” he said.
Currently, some $2 million in federal funding for the current fiscal year for drowning prevention is in jeopardy due to cuts to the CDC Injury Center, and the president’s proposed FY2027 budget has eliminated funding completely.
The CDC gives funds directly to the YMCA, said Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of the Safe States Alliance. Without funding, swim lessons may be canceled in areas across the country, including Massachusetts.
“We’re not providing for one YMCA, for example the opportunity to provide swimming lessons. We’re providing dozens or hundreds of YMCA’s the opportunity to provide swimming lessons at scale,” she said.
Last year in Massachusetts, 56 people died of drowning-related deaths.
Evidence shows that swim instruction, barrier fencing around residential pools, life jacket loaner programs and targeted community outreach all work to prevent drowning, said Gilmartin.
Worcester Congressman James McGovern is now fighting to keep the CDC funding available.
“I personally learned to swim at my local boys club and at the Y. And I’m grateful that I had that opportunity. But these organizations can’t keep doing this work without proper funding and resources,” he said.
The disparities impact individuals with disabilities and people living in low-income households. According to the National Autism Association, children with autism are 160 times more likely to die of drowning than the general pediatric population.
He said unintentional drowning costs over $40 million in medical costs a year.
“We know that water safety, education, and swimming instruction dramatically reduces the risk of drowning. And we know that this is a solvable problem,” he said.
Kat Pittinger, general manager and swim director at Worcester Fitness, said her center starts swim lessons for kids at age 6 months.
She said consistent swim lessons is what will keep children safe this summer, and parents shouldn’t put a price on the benefit of swimming lessons for children because it is a life-saving skill.
“Swim lessons tend to be the first thing that’s dropped because the baseball schedule changed, we just got the soccer schedule, we can’t do the lessons, but soccer and baseball are not gonna save your life,” she said.
She said many children in their programs receive funding through the state Dept. of Developmental Services or the Dept. of Children and Families, and even the Worcester Sheriff’s office provides funding for lessons including an adaptive swim lesson program.
Parents, she said, should always have direct supervision of their children when they are in or near the water.
“You should be arm’s reach away from them. Until they are at a level where they are what we consider able to save themselves,” she said.
This year, the YMCA celebrates its 175 anniversary and its swim safe program continues at many of its 13 centers across the Boston area including Roxbury, Huntington Avenue and Charlestown branches.
Douillette-Belli said group swim lessons were invented by the YMCA. While funding is always a concern, the organization is committed to continue with swim lessons for everyone in the community.
“We were the first one to have this idea of getting a group of people together and teaching them how to swim and through financial assistance we will not turn anyone away from the inability to pay for swim lessons,” he said.
