Jefferson Area Community Survey Fall 2013 September 17, 2015 Report of Survey Results on Ability to Swim

Jefferson Area Community Survey Fall 2013 Thomas M. Guterbock, Ph.D. Director Matthew Braswell, M.A. Graduate Research Assistant Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service University of Virginia CSR is a unit of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia About the Survey JACS is CSR’s recurrent, regional omnibus survey Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson, Louisa Random samples of cell phones and landlines November 2013 – January telephone interviews, –279 households with a child age Questions on swim ability sponsored by Benjamin Hair Just Swim for Life Foundation. 3

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia 4 Purposes of Swimming Questions Assess swimming ability and experience in the Charlottesville region Identify reasons for inability and inexperience Determine patterns of ability and experience across demographic groups in our community

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia 5 Adults’ Ability to Swim 24% of adults can’t swim well

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia 6 Reasons Why Adults Can’t Swim or Can Only Swim a Little

7 Adults’ Swimming Ability: Charlottesville vs. Surrounding Areas ResidenceCannot swim at all Can swim a little in deep water Can swim length of a 25-yard pool Can swim confidently more than 25 yards Total Charlottesville13.6%15.4%24.3%46.7%100% Elsewhere14.6%8.2%18.9%58.3%100% 29% of adults in Charlottesville can’t swim well

8 Adults’ Swimming Ability: The Unique Case of African Americans ResidenceCannot swim at all Can swim a little in deep water Can swim length of a 25-yard pool Can swim confidently more than 25 yards Total African Americans 49.5%22.1%17.9%10.5%100% All Others10.4%8.1%19.6%61.9%100% 72% of African-American adults can’t swim well, compared to 19% of other adults

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia 9 Children’s Ability to Swim 35% of children age 4-17 can’t swim well

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia 10 Reasons Why Children Can’t Swim or Can Only Swim a Little

11 Children’s Swimming Ability: The Unique Case of African Americans Race of parent Child cannot swim at all Child can swim a little in deep water Child can swim length of a 25-yard pool Child can swim confidently more than 25 yards Total African Americans 33.3%49.0%15.6%2.1%100% All Others9.2%19.9%20.4%50.5%100% 82% of African-American children (4-17) can’t swim well, compared to 29% of other children

Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Center for Survey Research University of Virginia Implications The disparity in swimming ability means that African- American children in our area are at far higher risk of death by drowning if involved in a water accident Lack of access to affordable swim facilities is a significant problem for many non-swimmers Statistical analysis of the survey data shows that the racial disparity in ability to swim cannot be accounted for by socio-economic status, age differences or other demographics More details at 12