Swimming lessons can save someone’s life, but for some households the cost is too high.
There is a clear disparity in access to swimming lessons when you look at race and ethnicity. A study from the Centers for Disease Control published in May found that 63% of black adults and 72% of Hispanic adults have never taken a swimming lesson. More than 50% of their white counterparts reported having taken lessons. The study cited cost as one reason for these disparities.
At Sacramento Central Young Men’s Christian Association, swimming lessons can cost between $110 and $225, depending on gym membership and type of instruction. The more expensive courses are private lessons, while the less expensive option is group lessons.
For those who can’t afford lessons, the YMCA offers scholarships and a program called Y-Assist, where people can get free swimming lessons. People are advised to fill out an online application and provide proof of income.
According to Sabrina Wiederhold, swim coordinator at YMCA Superior California, classes require four to six swimmers per instructor, and classes fill up quickly for certain age groups.
If the demand for a class is high enough, they will sometimes add another instructor. The YMCA has said that they have had to turn away people who tried to get into the class, putting them on a waiting list.
It’s at a point where the YMCA “constantly has a waiting list for classes,” said Alexandra Lunar, the association director of aquatic activities for the YMCA of Superior California. She said the organization is trying to keep up with demand by training new instructors and offering private lessons.
People have the best chance of getting a spot for affordable classes if they join the waitlist.
“Sometimes it can be a week, sometimes it can be a couple of months because we’re only doing one month at a time,” Wiederhold said. “Right now I’m planning for July, but in a week or two I’ll start planning for August. So it’s a matter of how far in advance they register.”
The wait is worth it, especially when you consider that the number of drowning deaths has increased nationwide. According to the CDC, more than 4,500 people died from drowning each year between 2020 and 2022. The study found that drowning was the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. Across race and ethnicity, Native Americans and Black Americans had the highest drowning rates each year.
According to experts, one of the factors contributing to this increase is due to the fact that too few people have taken swimming lessons because they cannot afford them or do not have access to them.
