Most of us with fond memories of learning to swim back when we were kids only want the same thing for
\nour own children. The fun, laughter, and smiles remain with us for our whole lives. But, of late, concern
\nhas been growing among ourselves and other community leaders about the unacceptable increase in
\nyouth drownings here in the Tampa Bay region; and really, across all of Florida.
\nRecently, the Tampa Bay Times reported that drowning claimed the lives of 98 children in 2021, up 42
\npercent from the year before, including a disturbing two-week stretch this past July when eight children
\ndied.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s no laughing matter at all.<\/p>\n
Especially when it doesn\u2019t account for the hundreds of sometimes minor, sometimes major injuries that
\nhappen routinely\u2014in addition to the thousands of frightening near-misses not reported in that statistic.
\nThis story may even bring a personal one to mind.<\/p>\n
Here at High 5, we\u2019re writing to strongly encourage parents throughout the area to take water safety
\nseriously and to take advantage of the \u201clearn-to-swim\u201d resources available to them and their children.
\nThe good news is that our organization offers many of the very best, with swim classes for kids of all
\nages, starting at just three years old. More importantly, we believe in what we do and have made
\nlearning to swim our first and foremost pillar of support in the community.<\/p>\n
That commitment dovetails with one silver lining in the Times\u2019 article, which underscored the difference
\nenrolling children in formal swimming lessons can make, especially in terms of reducing their lifetime
\nchances of drowning by 88 percent\u2014a figure still short of our goal to eliminate youth drowning entirely,
\nbut still many strokes in the right direction.<\/p>\n
As a 501c3 non-profit organization, High 5 has been working to turn the tide against the loss of life in the
\nwater since our inception back in 1963. Today, we\u2019re among the area\u2019s most trusted leaders in youth
\ndrowning prevention, as well as a lifeguard- and CPR-certification classes, competitive swimming, diving,
\nfirst-aid training, and much more.<\/p>\n
High 5 also offers a progressive group lesson program as well as private lessons for both children and
\nadults, parent\/tot classes and adaptive swim lessons, as well as Olympic-level coaching for swimming
\nand diving competitors.<\/p>\n
Too many families have suffered the unimaginable loss of children in-and-around the water. Just twenty
\nseconds of looking the other way in as little as two inches of water can be tragic. Yet, there\u2019s hope in what
\nwe do here and out in the community every day. Working together, we can fight the good fight in keeping
\nkids safe, happy, and free to make their own wonderful memories of playtime in the water.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s always a High 5 for that!<\/p>\n
THERE\u2019S A HIGH 5 FOR THAT
\nHigh 5 Inc. Education Athletics Community (logo) | 813.689.0908 | memberservices@high5inc.org<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Most of us with fond memories of learning to swim back when we were kids only want the same thing for our own children. The fun, laughter, and smiles remain with us for our whole lives. But, of late, concern has been growing among ourselves and other community leaders about the unacceptable increase in youth drownings here in the Tampa … <\/p>\n