Four years into the American Red Cross’ Aquatics Centennial Campaign, the organization and its partner, Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program, have surpassed their five-year goal of providing 50,000 sets of swim lessons (more than 400,000 individual lessons) in 88 communities across the country.
The Campaign also certified more than 1,000 lifeguards and water safety instructors.
The goal of the Aquatics Centennial Campaign is to reduce drownings in communities where drowning numbers or rates are higher than the national average. It has made swim lessons and water safety training available, accessible and affordable in these communities. The campaign emphasizes repeated swim lessons until water competency is reached, and parents and caregivers are also learning how to perform CPR and use an AED.
“We’ve exceeded our original milestones,” said Gail McGovern, president/CEO of the American Red Cross, in a press release. “And we’re thrilled that this vital effort is still going strong across the country.”
