Hi Friends

Did you know that drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1-4 and a leading cause for older children, teens and adults, yet drowning is preventable?

Globally, more than 236,000 people are lost to drowning each year.

Annually, the U.S loses an average of 3,500 people of all ages to FATAL, PREVENTABLE drowning. That is almost 10 people per day!

This year (as of July 13th), Texas alone has lost at least  41 children  and many adults to fatal, preventable drowning, while 8x as many have survived a non-fatal drowning.

Between 2006-2020, Texas lost 5000 children and adults to drowning in all kinds of water. That is an average of 1 person per day.

Drowning does not discriminate on any basis- age, race, gender, socioeconomic level or even swimming ability. NO ONE IS DROWN PROOF.  Not Even Me or You. YOU.

I set a goal to swim (and paddle a few) 100 miles between May, National Water Safety Month and World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25th).   

And I will do at least 11 of those miles during the week of July 18- July 25 as we lead up to World Drowning Prevention Day.

Check out my Quest to do this!  https://www.questify.ai/quest/colins-hope-swim-paddle-quest-2022/alissamagrum

Why so many miles? Each mile is for those lost to a drowning, those who have survived a non-fatal drowning and their families left behind.   They are the WHY I swim/paddle and WHY I have been working tirelessly in water safety and drowning prevention for the last 12+ years.   

Please join me and sign up to swim or paddle wherever you are.

Not up for swimming or paddling?  Please consider making a donation of any amount and I'll do all the miles.

It's important to me that you know how Colin's Hope uses the funds raised by Athlete Ambassadors like me.

Colin's Hope educates parents/caregivers and children to be safer around the water all year round through proven programs. Colin's Hope distributes 75,000 water safety education cards each year, sponsors swim lessons and water safety education lessons, stocks life jacket loaner stations, serves in leadership positions locally, state and nationwide. This year, Colin's Hope just put our evidence-based Water Safety with Colin & Friends curriculum on a new website www.drowningispreventable.org  that  allows parents, caregivers, teachers and children FREE access to water safety lessons and videos.

The work that Colin's Hope does ABSOLUTELY saves lives, changes behaviors to be safer around water and prevents drownings. If we continue this work, we CAN END DROWNING.

Together, we will do this in honor of Colin and all of the children lost to a fatal drowning and those who have survived a non-fatal drowning and their families who courageously work every day to prevent drowning so that no family will have to experience what they have experienced. It will take ALL of US to change the culture of water safety. I dream of a day when kids learn about water safety when they learn not to touch the stove or to wear a seatbelt or to stop, drop and roll. I know we can get there if we work together.

Remember that DROWNING IS Fast. Silent. AND Preventable. And please tell your family and friends.

Hand over heart thank you for your support!

As Colin used to say- Have the Best Day Ever!

 
Alissa