In an expansion of a national multi-year campaign to reduce drownings, the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation has joined the American Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign. Already this year, this partnership is furthering accessibility to water safety programs for thousands in western Washington. 

The goal of the American Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign is to create an ‘ecosystem of water safety’ to reduce drownings in communities where there are high numbers of drownings or drowning rates that are higher than the national average. This goal aligns with a recent youth aquatics initiative launched by Seattle Parks and Recreation called Swim Seattle, which seeks to remove barriers to learning to swim and eradicate disproportionate drownings among youth of color.

Now, with Seattle joining the Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign, the Red Cross is partnering in this initiative to make swim lessons and water safety training available, accessible and affordable to western Washington communities. This effort also helps educate parents, children and teens so that everyone stays as safe as possible as they enjoy time in and around the water.

“Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Swim Seattle Initiative is proud to join the Aquatics Centennial Campaign,” said Mike Plympton, Aquatic Manager for Seattle Parks and Recreation. “This partnership will enable us to provide more quality swim lessons, water safety education and lifeguard training to the community than ever before.”

According to the CDC, in the United States, more children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. For children ages 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths. And the state of Washington has a drowning rate that is higher than the national average.

“These numbers showcase just how crucial it is for families in Washington to have access to water safety information and become competent swimmers,” said Megan Dulgar, CEO of the American Red Cross Northwest Region. “The best way to reduce drowning is to prevent dangerous situations from happening in the first place. That’s why we’re asking every family to make sure that both adults and children can swim, and that parents make water safety a priority this summer.” 

Seattle Parks and Recreation is now teaching the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program in their Learn to Swim Beginner series. This spring, the city has already seen more than 2,400 people register for these swim lessons, which have a strong focus on water competency.

Additional information on the Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign, including a video, is available at redcross.org/centennialswim. 

For more information on the Swim Seattle Initiative, watch the video below. Those interested in signing up for these lessons with Seattle Parks and Recreation can click here to do so.

About Seattle Parks and Recreation:

Seattle Parks and Recreation equips employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) manages a 6,441-acre park system of over 489 parks and extensive natural areas. SPR provides athletic fields, tennis courts, play areas, specialty gardens, and more than 25 miles of boulevards and 120 miles of trails. The system comprises about 12% of the city's land area. SPR also manages many facilities, including 25 community centers, eight indoor swimming pools, two outdoor (summer) swimming pools, two environmental education centers, two small craft centers, four golf courses, an outdoor stadium, and much more.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.