Learn to Swim – A Lifelong Skill and Sport
Published 9:22 am Friday, March 7, 2025
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The Elizabethton City Schools Community Involvement Program (CIP) swimming lesson program begins on March 31 with its first of nine sessions running through August 8. The program is designed for students ages 5-18, but there are also opportunities for private adult lessons. With the multitude of waterways in East Tennessee, swimming is potentially a lifesaving skill to learn. Having access to the beautiful lakes in our region provides a healthy outdoor activity to while away the summer days, but it can be dangerous if basic lifesaving skills have not been learned.
In the United States, according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning deaths have been increasing in recent years, particularly among young adults and older adults. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. It is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages 5-14. An average of 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur annually. Swimming pools are the most common location for drowning deaths in children, but natural water bodies, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, are also significant risk factors. However, access to swimming lessons and water safety education can significantly reduce the risk of drowning.
“We are proud to be able to offer these lessons to families in our community,” said EHS head swim coach Kelli Broussard, the program coordinator. “We are the only country in the developed world to not have a plan to address the drowning epidemic, so it’s up to community programs to take the lead and try to make a difference.”
The CIP lessons teach both lifesaving skills as well as the competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly through a four-level program. Depending on how far a student wants to go with the sport, once a student graduates from the program, they have the opportunity to join the Typhoons Swim Club. The club offers a summer swim league that practices and competes in a fun and relaxed environment against other summer league teams in the region.
For more information about swimming lessons, the Typhoons Swim Club, or the summer league program, please visit swimtyphoons.com, Typhoon Swim Club on Facebook, email kelli.broussard@ecschools.org, or call (423) 547-8015, ext. 1547.
