In the summer of 2017, a near drowning of a 5 year old boy at a club pool near my home made me realize how important water safety is and how quickly and quietly tragedy can occur. Days later, I founded Caps for a Cause to make swimming more accessible to everyone, especially children in underprivileged communities.

 

In the days that followed that near tragedy, I learned that drowning is the second leading cause of death in children 14 and under in the United States. Every day in our country, two children drown, and every year 1,500 children drown. Even if they don't die, severe and permanent brain damage can occur from lack of oxygen under water. Most drowning victims come from disadvantaged homes.

 

There may be many reasons a child does not know how to swim, but it should not be because they don't have the gear. I heard someone from one of the local community YMCAs say that a lot of people there don't swim because they don't have a swimsuit, or they just swim in their street clothes. More kids should know how to swim, and they will want to know how to swim if they have the equipment and if they can see how fun it is. Swimming saves lives, builds confidence, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and is fun! 

 

We can help, one child at a time.