TEACHING
KIDS HOW TO SWIM.
ANNE PARKER REPORTS.
REPORTER: HUNDREDS OF KIDS
LEARNING HOW TO SWIM.
>> INCREDIBLE.
IT'S A GREAT FEELING.
REPORTER: ALL THANKS TO THE 100
BLACK MEN OF JACKSON.
>> SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 500
STUDENTS.
REPORTER: BACK IN 2014,
MISSISSIPPI HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SAID 14 CHILDREN DROWNED.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE
STATE HAS LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM.
IT RECOMMENDS PROGRAMS THAT
PROMOTE WATER SAFETY AN OFFER
FR SWIMMING LESSONS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JOHN HARDING
SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION IS DOING.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING
THEY OVERCOME IS FEAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS AFRAID TO
EVEN GET IN THE WATER.
TO SEE THEM TRANSFORM OVER A
TWO-WEEK PERIOD IS INCREDIBLE.
REPORTER: NOT ONLY ARE THE KIDS
LEARNING LIFE SAVING SKILL,
THEY'RE HAVING FUN, TOO.
PARENTS SAY THEY CAN BREATHE A
LOT EASIER KNOWING THEIR KIDS
CAN SWIM.
>> I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THEM DROWNING OR SOMEBODY
PUSHING THEM OFF THE SIDE OF THE
POOL AND SOMETHING HAPPENING.
REPORTER: STRUCKERS SAY THE BEST
PART OF THE CLASS IS ALWAYS ON
THE LAST DAY WHEN THE KIDS JUMP
OFF THIS DIVING BOARD INTO THE
DEEP END.
THAT'S WHEN THEY'VE OFFICIALLY
PASS THEIR SWIMMING TEST
