MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With excessive heat warnings across the Mid-South, many have been hitting the pool and local lakes to cool off.
But with millions of Americans not knowing how to swim, a fun day in the water could take a dangerous turn.
According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the world.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15.4% of Americans don't know how to swim. That's over 40 million people.
A study by USA Swimming and the University of Memphis said up to 70% of Black Americans can't swim. Meanwhile, they say only 31% of Caucasians cannot swim.
Velver Lee, founder of Grown Women Swim, is working to change those statistics.
"We need to learn how to swim," Lee said. "One, for safety. There are natural disasters that happen all the time, and we need to be prepared. And as well as for recreation."
Lee said she specializes in teaching women with a fear of the water. She said it's never too late to learn the potentially life-saving skill.
"My oldest mermaid is 77 years old," Lee said. "I didn't learn until I was 39 years old, and I was terrified of the water."
The class takes a slow approach. It starts with breathing techniques to make sure participants are comfortable before diving in.
"We're moving with them," said Lee. "We're holding them until we wean them off of us and they move to the next level."
Latisha Gray is taking her second session with Grown Women Swim. She said the class helped her turn a fear into a hobby.
"I was scared of the water, and I don't want to drown," said Gray. "I kind of got into the groove of it, and I'm enjoying it."
Over the last eight years, Lee said she has helped over 800 women learn how to swim.
"It's so empowering that they conquer something that they have been afraid of for so many years, and now they're lives are changed," Lee said
Classes are held year-round in the indoor pool at the Fogelman Downtown YMCA.
You can find more places across the Mid-South to sign yourself or your children up for swim lessons here.