For many children, learning to swim is a rite of passage and an opportunity to build confidence, stay active, and enjoy time with friends and family. For children living with sickle cell disease (SCD), however, concerns related to hydration, fatigue, and temperature changes can create barriers to safe participation in water-based activities. These challenges can be even greater within the African American/Black community, where both sickle cell disease prevalence and drowning disparities are disproportionately high, with more than 90 percent of those with SCD in the country being African American/Black,¹ and African American/Black children being at a higher risk of drowning than white children.²

Helping children with sickle cell disease swim safely

Inspired by an employee of The Cigna Group^® whose daughter lives with SCD, The Cigna Group created the Safe Swimming with Sickle Cell (SSwSC) program to help address barriers that have historically limited safe swimming access for children living with SCD. The program was inspired by a simple but powerful insight: many children living with SCD wanted to learn how to swim but lacked access to swim programs designed around their unique needs and safety considerations. Designed alongside clinicians and safety experts, the program was created for children with SCD and their caregivers and built on three focus areas: education, confidence, and connection.

Rather than focusing on what children with SCD should avoid, SSwSC focuses on what is possible when families have the right education, resources, and support. The program incorporates condition-specific safety considerations around hydration, fatigue, and temperature management so children can participate safely and confidently.

SSwSC combines clinically informed safety protocols, swim instruction, and community connection, and offers:

• Water safety education tailored to children with SCD and their caregivers.
• Free, supervised swim lessons adapted for the children’s condition and needs.
• Culturally relevant community engagement designed to build trust and confidence.

Beyond water safety, the program helps equip children and caregivers with practical knowledge that may help reduce avoidable complications associated with dehydration, overexertion, and temperature-related triggers. The program also provides opportunities for physical activity, social connection, community support, and personal growth that can contribute to overall well-being.

The program brings together health care expertise, water safety education, and community collaboration to expand access to safe swimming, build confidence among children and caregivers, and equip families with life-saving skills that can benefit them for years to come.

Making an impact in communities that need it most

Building on successful programs in Atlanta and Memphis, SSwSC continues to expand into communities where families face the greatest barriers to safe swimming access. In 2026, programming expanded to include Washington, D.C. and Maryland, with future expansion guided by data on SCD prevalence, community need, and gaps in swim safety education.

Since its founding, SSwSC has served more than 400 children across Atlanta, Memphis, and Washington, D.C., nearly all of whom have been African American/Black and many of whom had never received formal swim instruction before participating. Through local collaboration with hospitals, YMCAs, clinicians, and community organizations, the program continues to build a scalable model that can help bring safe swimming access to more families in the years ahead.

Safe Swimming with Sickle Cell events pair experienced swim instructors with young swimmers to help build confidence and promote water safety. Above is a participant from a water safety and education event at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on April 11, 2026, that SSwSC supported and that was held in partnership with Diversity in Aquatics. Photo by Kent J. Edwards.

The benefits of swimming for children with sickle cell disease

For children living with SCD, swimming can provide much more than a recreational activity. With the right precautions, it can be a safe form of physical activity that supports overall health while also creating opportunities to build confidence, develop friendships, and experience a sense of belonging. Beyond the physical benefits, swimming can help reduce feelings of isolation, strengthen social connections, and give children the opportunity to participate more fully in activities that many of their peers may take for granted. Through programs like Safe Swimming with Sickle Cell, children and families gain the knowledge, confidence, and support needed to safely enjoy the water and thrive beyond their disease.

The important role of providers

Partnerships with and support from local hospitals, including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital of Memphis, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, have been instrumental in helping make the SSwSC program possible. Collaborations with health care and community organizations are important for removing barriers to swimming for children with SCD, building confidence in these children, and expanding access to evidence-based swim education for children with the disease.

Providers are often among the most trusted sources of information for families navigating sickle cell disease. By helping families understand that children with SCD can participate safely in swimming with appropriate precautions and education, providers can play an important role in expanding access to a life-saving skill while supporting physical, emotional, and social well-being.

Having conversations with your patients about hydration, fatigue management, temperature awareness, and water safety can help families feel more informed and confident about participating in aquatic activities. For a community that has historically been discouraged from swimming because of concerns about complications, these conversations can help children and caregivers understand that safe swimming is possible with the right knowledge, preparation, and support.

Additional information

For more information about the Safe Swimming with Sickle Cell program, check out this article here.

Providers can download a flyer with information about the program and tips for safely swimming with SCD that you can share with your patients here.

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “What Is Sickle Cell Disease?” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. 10 December 2025. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sickle-cell-disease.

2. Kathleen Felisca, et al. “Racial Disparities in Swimming Ability and Drowning Risk Factors.” Pediatrics Open Science. 20 February 2026. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1542/pedsos.2025-001083.