The Consumer Product Safety Commission says drownings are the top cause of accidental death in young children. The news is more alarming for African-American and Hispanic children. 70 percent of African-American children never learn to swim. The same is true for 58 percent of Hispanic children. Without swimming lessons, they’re much more likely to drown.
Some local YMCA branches do offer free swimming lessons to low-income families who qualify under the “Swim For Life” program.
