# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C-F3xdMuGZo
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72589813-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/5f30f0d80f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-07-31T15:15:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

“I could have been one of the statistics.” This was the realization Danielle Hodge had after a life-changing moment shaped her destiny to becoming a water safety advocate.

Danielle is a champion for diversity in aquatics, a non-profit owner, and now, a certified lifeguard. Her drive to educate and protect her community in and around the water started after she almost drowned at age 6.

"In our childhood pool, I was leaning over the edge and fell in," Danielle said. "My brother came in after me and saved me."

In that moment, Danielle decided she wouldn't let her fear win. 

“I could have continued to be scared and never learned to swim, but I did," Danielle said.

Danielle began to recognize disparities in drowning rates within Black and African American communities. From her experience, she knew she could make a difference. 

Danielle started her own pool inflatable company, which eventually led her to launch her nonprofit, AlmaSwimFoundation. Through this organization, she teaches swim lessons, hosts water safety events, and helps raise money for swim scholarships.

“My vision is to become louder and encourage people — particularly the Black community — to revisit their relationship with the water," Danielle said. "To let them know they can actually learn this skill.”

African American children ages 5 to 19 drown in swimming pools at rates more than five times higher than Caucasian children in the same age range. People like Danielle are making strides to change that statistic. 

Today, Danielle is a certified lifeguard who advocates for others to receive lifeguard training, too.

"I’m so glad I did it," Danielle said. “I learned so much and now I can save somebody’s life for real.”

We have tremendous gratitude for compassionate changemakers like Danielle who are always looking for new ways to make their communities safer for everyone. ❤️ #LifeguardAppreciationDay

#WaterSafety #Lifeguarding #LifeguardLife #DiversityInAquatics

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## Tags

lifeguarding, diversityinaquatics, lifeguardlife, lifeguardappreciationday, watersafety

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