Video: Research shows gap in swimming skills for minority kids

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SEATTLE - Keeping your child safe from drowning can mean facing your own fears when it comes to the water.

That's according to new research that shows a huge gap in swimming skills for minority kids.

Dnaijah Kennedy Smith is on her way to becoming a swimmer. That's rare among her friends, says her mom, Denisha.

"In the community where I'm from, not a lot of the African American kids swim," she said.

Why not? For one thing, Denisha Kennedy says water can be a lot of work.

"We don't like to mess up our hair," she said. "I've got a swim cap on my daughter. It's just the whole thing of going home, washing it, combing it out."

University of Memphis researchers found nearly 60 percent of African American children and 56 percent of Hispanic children can't swim safely. That's compared to 31 percent of white children.

"We've known for actually awhile that African Americans have a much higher rate of drowning," said Dr. Linda Quan, a nationally recognized drowning prevention expert at Seattle Children's Hospital.

She calls the study exciting because it identifies reasons many minority kids can't swim.

"Their families are much more fearful of the water, have had much less experience in general around the water. Their parents themselves have not learned to swim," Quan said.

At Rainier Beach pool, programs are aimed at breaking the cycle. Cascade Club sponsors a swim team.

And there's a learn-to-swim program funded by Seattle Parks and Recreation. It comes with free swim suits and vouchers covering the cost of lessons for third- and fourth-graders in Seattle. 

Perhaps most important for these kids is the determination of parents who see swim skills as an important part of their summer safety.

"I never had the opportunity, and now that my daughters have the opportunity, I want them to learn," said Alma Gonzalez, mother of two girls.

Swimming lessons at pools are a good first step, but when kids get out in the open water, beaches with lifeguards are the safest place to improve on skills.

Due to funding cuts, this is the last summer kids can join the learn-to-swim program.  

But parents can sign up children for free swim lessons at all nine Seattle area beaches that have lifeguards on duty.