Diving Deep: Discover the Secrets of 27 East Swimming Skills

Infants and young adults from birth to 29 years represent more than half (57 percent) of all drowning fatalities (Source: WHO, December 13, 2024). More toddlers aged 1 to 4 perish from drowning than any other cause of death. Drowning ranks as the second-most common cause of unintentional injury death (following motor vehicle accidents) among children aged 5 to 14 (CDC, October 20, 2024).

Providing swimming instruction can be life-saving. Nearly 40 million adults (54 percent) in the United States do not possess swimming skills, and over half (54.7 percent) have never participated in a swimming course. Adults aged 65 and older experienced the second-highest drowning statistics in 2022 (CDC, May 15, 2024).

STAR AquaCenter (Southampton Town Aquatics and Recreation Center) is an initiative aimed at addressing this tragic and preventable problem. It will feature two pools; one designed for eight-lane practice and competition, and the other will serve multiple purposes, offering swimming lessons, rehabilitation therapy, and water aerobics sessions.

The STAR AquaCenter has secured the land and obtained approved plans, including necessary permits; however, so far only a portion of the required funding has been raised.

Fatal drowning incidents have risen in Suffolk County when compared to 2023 and 2022. The statistics are more severe in Suffolk County than in Nassau County, given that we are a coastal area lacking a community swimming facility. As of July 22, 2024, Suffolk County recorded 10 children’s drowning deaths. There were four in 2023 and eight in 2022.

When will we take action to address this?

I am a 94-year-old woman who conducts water aerobics in her unheated condominium pool every summer. I hope to see the STAR AquaCenter built while I am still around to benefit from it.

Kindly consider getting involved with, contributing to, and supporting the STAR AquaCenter. Visit staraquacenter.org for additional information and thank you.

Fay Mack

Southampton