Missouri State Couneil of Devense

Physical Fitness and Recreation Program
LEARN-TO-SWIM PROGRAM

The Missouri Committee on Physical Fitness and Recreation is
suggesting a ‘Learn to Swim" program to be sponsored by the local
committees on Physical Fitness and Recreation.

in any type of swimming program there may be several possible
outcomes or values which result from the activity. One outcome
may be improved: recreational or leisure-time habits, another value
may be an improvement of physical fitness, while still a third
value may be an increase in one's personal safety ability.

A local or county Defense Council in conjunction with a local
unit of the American Red Grose could sponsor a swimming program
for adults as well as for children.

For one group of individuals of our communities swimming in-
struction appears to be urgently needed. There are many young
men of draft and predreft age who are unable to swim and who may
in a short time find themselves.in situations where ability to
swim even a short distance may mean, for them, the difference
between life and death. It is becoming more and more important
in modern warfare to be able to swim. There seems to be no
question but what much of the present war will involve an in-

creasing amount of travel and of fighting, on, in, and above water.

increased numbers of our young men will, after proper training be

sent to foreign battle fronts across wide oceans, which are not at

present controlled by our navy. Our navy is to be larger than