Olympic swimming legends of USA Swimming Foundation. Missy Franklin, Cullen Jones, Rowdy Gaines, and Elizabeth Beisel on keeping pools open year-round to save lives of all children

They are launching a national campaign entitled Saving Lives is Always in Season to promote the importance of keeping pools open year-round for swim lessons and drowning prevention.

Franklin, Jones, Gaines, and Beisel (photos and bios below), strongly believe it is safe to keep facilities open for purpose-based swimming during the COVID pandemic, and that not doing so puts children at risk.

64% of African American children, 45% of Hispanic/Latino children, and 40% of Caucasian children have low to no swimming ability, putting minority children at greater risks for water-related accidents.

When pools aren’t open, kids aren’t getting swimming lessons to learn skills that could save their lives.

Drowning prevention is a year-round priority, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need for kids to receive swim lessons as more children are at home around unguarded water sources.

As outdoor pools begin to close for the season, the need for indoor pools to reopen, and stay open, to provide this lifesaving service is greater than ever.

In many places, swim lessons are being conducted indoors safely and successfully during the pandemic with COVID-19 safety measures in place. We need to expand these lessons to areas where indoor pools remain closed.