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, , now located at Cleveland State University, teaches kids how to swim to help prevent accidental drownings.
The "Sound of Ideas" is partnering with Cleveland State University student journalists this semester. On Tuesday's show, we'll highlight the work of AquaMissions with a segment produced by CSU's "Broadcast Pre-Production" class.
Guests:
- Lynne Nagy, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director, AquaMissions
- Ronqesha Robinson, Assistant Principal, Rhodes College & Career Academy, Cleveland Metropolitan School District & Board Member, AquaMissions
- Devyn Etling, AquaMissions Intern and Instructor & Senior, Cleveland State University
- Misa Colon, AquaMissions Student & Fourth Grader, Garfield Elementary, Cleveland Metropolitan School District