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KGMB9 Evening Team
Red Cross Summer Swim Program Print E-mail
June 08, 2008 05:09 PM

 
About 300 youngsters ages two to twelve are participating in the Red Cross' annual Summer swim program.

"She's in the beginner class cause she's never swam before so it was the red class and she basically learned how to float and kind of kick her feet and just get comfortable," said Gen Tamura.

The classes are free and they can be a life saver.

"The value is just immeasurable. I mean water safety. We live in Hawaii. The kids love the water. We want to go to the beach. And they're young and for them to learn how to swim is just wonderful," said Emily Key.

With so much water all around you may think everyone in Hawaii knows how to swim, but most public schools here don't have pools and don't teach kids how to thrive or even survive in the water.

"About 70% of our population could not swim to save their life. Not swim well enough and so it's an acquired habit. It is not something that you inherit. So people do need to learn how to swim," said Coralie Matayoshi.

"According to the Department of Health, about 67 people drown every year in Hawaii. About 150 go to the hospital for near drowning," said Coralie Matayoshi.

These keiki classes run every Saturday for the next five weeks at Ala Moana Beach.
The classes were full this weekend but it's possible some students won't show in the coming weeks so some slots for more kids may open up.

"He's doing wonderful, which is another big factor. It's not, you do it this way and they line the kids up one by one. You have fun and it's like your in a normal family setting like you're going to the beach on any given day, it's just they're learning along with it and he may not necessarily know it, but he's learning something," said Emily Key.


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Last Updated ( June 08, 2008 05:09 PM )
 

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