American Red Cross and Milwaukee Recreation Aquatics partner to create ‘ecosystem of water safety’ for children and adults with Centennial Campaign
[MILWAUKEE, Wisc., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019] – In an expansion of a national multi-year campaign to reduce drownings and increase access to water safety skills, the Milwaukee Recreation Aquatics program through Milwaukee Public Schools has joined the American Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign.
“We’re partnering with Red Cross aquatics training providers like Milwaukee Recreation Aquatics to create an ecosystem of water safety in communities where there are high numbers of drownings or drowning rates that are higher than the national average,” said Mark Thomas, Regional CEO and Southeast Wisconsin Chapter Executive, American Red Cross. “To families, this means having access to affordable life-saving swim lessons and water safety training in and near their communities.”
The Centennial Campaign will bring $5 swim lessons to resident and non-resident children and adults at four select Milwaukee Recreation school pools in the city:
- James Madison Academic Campus (8135 W. Florist Ave.)
- North Division High School (1011 W. Center St.)
- Milwaukee High School of the Arts (2300 W. Highland Ave.)
- Vincent High School (7501 W. Granville Road)
“Milwaukee Recreation is proud to be a part of the Centennial Campaign. The partnership will allow the Milwaukee community access to learn-to-swim programs at locations that have historically struggled with both poverty and drowning rates. We are excited to offer affordable, quality swim lessons, water safety education and lifeguard training to more students than we ever have before,” said Nicole Jacobson, Aquatics Supervisor with Milwaukee Recreation.
Registration is open starting Tuesday, Dec. 10 and available through the Milwaukee Recreation website [click here] and by-mail program.
Aquatics Centennial Campaign by the Numbers
The Red Cross campaign began in 2014 in recognition of 100 years of Red Cross swimming safety education. Due to the positive response, the campaign is expanding beyond the initial 50 programs.
Through the end of 2018, national campaign milestones include:
- 81,288 sets of swim lessons in 93 communities and 197 aquatic facilities in 23 states
- 839 lifeguards certified and 1,896 junior lifeguards trained
- 768 Water Safety and Basic Swim instructors certified
- 12,388 parents and caregivers armed with lifesaving water-safety knowledge and skills