Bijan Robinson helps city raise awareness of water safety

University of Texas football star Bijan Robinson taught a swim lesson at Bartholomew Pool in East Austin last week as part of a partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatic Division and Tankproof, a nonprofit that offers swim lessons to underserved communities. “By teaching children how to be safe and confident in the water, and by raising awareness about the importance of swim lessons, this partnership seeks to help save lives,” the city said in a press release. Robinson “teaches kids to swim so that they learn the skills to survive and thrive in the water.” Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 years old. Robinson himself survived a nonfatal drowning when he was 5 years old. According to the press release, “Nine children have drowned in Texas already this year, but these accidents can be prevented if everyone watches children near water and learns to swim.” Register for city of Austin swim lessons and swim teams starting Monday, April 3, at 8 a.m.