AquaMissions hopes to prevent drownings by teaching Cleveland students to swim

By Kodi Reynolds, Kirsten Kimbler | Ideastream Public Media

Every year in the United States there are over 4,000 drowning deaths, making it the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Northeast Ohio, due to the proximity to Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River, there is even more reason to teach young people to swim. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, in 2025 there were 19 drownings in Lake Erie. With summer fast approaching, the likelihood of accidental drownings increases.

The nonprofit program, AquaMissions, now located at Cleveland State University, teaches kids how to swim to help prevent accidental drownings…