Drowning Rates Hit Highest Levels Since 2017 with Spring and Summer Bringing Spike in Water-Related Incidents

Goldfish Swim School Announces Spring Break Jump Start Clinics to Help Families Prioritize Water Safety Ahead of Spring Travel and Summer Water Fun

• Recent data note drowning rates are the highest they've been since 2017, with significant spikes expected as we move into the spring and summer months
• With Spring Break approaching and families traveling to warm destinations where water-related activities are common, water-safety preparation is key
• Goldfish Swim School urges parents and caregivers to take proactive steps to ensure their children's safety in and around water particularly as we come out of the colder winter months when focus on water safety often lags
• In addition to year-round swim lessons, Goldfish Swim School offers their one-of-a-kind Spring Break Jump Start Clinics to give kids the chance to sharpen their skills quickly and have a safer Spring Break and summer

TROY, Mich., Feb. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the days grow longer and families plan their Spring Break getaways, experts are sounding the alarm about an increase in drowning rates and urging families to take steps to prepare now. Recent data note drowning rates are the highest they've been since 2017, with significant spikes expected as we move into the spring and summer months.

Goldfish Swim School, the leading swim school franchise in North America, continues its mission to raise awareness about water safety and provide the tools and training to help keep swimmers of all ages safer in and around the water. While water safety is always in season, and Goldfish Swim School offers year-round swim lessons to help children of all ages learn and improve their swim and water safety skills, the experts also recognize that these skills can fall behind during the colder winter months, when many families feel water safety is less of a concern. To help families prioritize water safety for upcoming Spring Break travel and summer water fun, Goldfish Swim School is proud to provide their one-of-a-kind Spring Break Jump Start Clinics, offering four or five consecutive days of swim lessons, at the same time each day, with the same swim instructor to give kids the chance to sharpen their skills quickly and have a safer Spring Break and summer.

"As we approach the busy Spring Break travel season and families plan adventures that often involve time in and around water, it's critical for parents to prioritize water safety," said Jenny McCuiston, Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School. "Drowning is a preventable tragedy, and swim lessons play a vital role in keeping children safe. Through our Jump Start Clinics and unique Science of SwimPlay® approach, we provide families with the opportunity to fast-track getting water-ready, preparing all for a safer, enjoyable spring break and summer."

A reported 23% of child drownings occur during family gatherings near pools, while a staggering 88% of child drownings happen with at least one adult present. These statistics highlight a critical gap in water safety awareness, as many families, particularly those with young children, may not recognize how swiftly accidents can occur in and around the water.

"I know firsthand how quickly a situation in the water can escalate," said Cullen Jones, Olympic Champion Swimmer and Goldfish Swim School water safety ambassador. "At five years old, I nearly drowned at a water park where many adults were present. Thanks to fast-action and immediate CPR intervention, I was fortunate to survive, but many kids don't get that chance. As a survivor, a swimmer, and a dad, I am passionate about the importance of learning to swim and water safety education. Goldfish Swim School is helping make swim lessons accessible to families everywhere through their expansive growth across North America, as well as their crucial scholarship partnership with Every Child a Swimmer. With programs like these, Goldfish Swim School's year-round swim lesson offerings, and the Spring Break Jump Start Clinics, we can reduce drowning rates and save lives."

Formal swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children between the ages of 1 and 4. With spring break approaching and families traveling to warm destinations where water-related activities are common, Goldfish Swim School is urging parents and caregivers to take proactive steps to ensure their children's safety in and around water.

Cullen Jones, Jenny McCuiston, and local Goldfish Swim School experts are available for interviews to share important information, key water safety tips, packing guides, and other crucial guidance for preparing families for Spring Break travel and safer summer water fun.

Goldfish Swim School Spring Break Jump Start Clinics are offered at participating locations across the U.S. and Canada. For more information visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/ or find your nearest location.

About Goldfish Swim School:   

Founded in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Troy, Michigan-based Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years. Classes are led by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly environment using a research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Since opening its first franchised location in 2009, the brand has grown to more than 180 schools in over 35 states and Canada, with an additional 160+ in development. Goldfish is ranked No. 74 overall in Entrepreneur's 2024 Franchise 500^® and has been recognized as the No. 1 swimming lessons franchise for eight consecutive years, was named to Franchise Times' Top Brand to Buy in 2024 and is rated as a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review for 2024. 

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SOURCE Goldfish Swim School