Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Michael Phelps Foundation

Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) Director Dr. Abdulgafoor M. Bachani traveled to Peoria, Arizona to celebrate the Michael Phelps Foundation’s (MPF) 10^th anniversary on Saturday, August 25, 2018.

The event, held at the Peoria pool, featured Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps who spoke on behalf of the foundation and discussed drowning prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles for children. After the speech, local children participants received swim instruction from program educators on how to float, as well as proper stroke techniques.  JH-IIRU was one of several organizations in attendance for the event, along with Boys & Girls Club of America and Pool Safely.

Recently, Dr. Bachani and JH-IIRU faculty worked to evaluate MPF’s “im program,” which aims to provide program participants with skills to become comfortable in and around swimming pools. Unit research found that the program made swim training accessible to approximately 2,500 families that would otherwise be unable to participate and nearly 7,000 children were able to participate in formal swim training sessions for the first time to explore and enjoy the water.

“As we, too, celebrate ten years of research at the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, we’re so thrilled to be able to work with the Michael Phelps Foundation and applaud the team’s commitment to drowning prevention,” said Dr. Bachani. “We look forward to future partnership opportunities where we can join together to make a difference and save lives from this preventable risk factor.”

Outside of its work with MPF, JH-IIRU has initiated one of the largest implementation research studies on drowning on low- and middle-income countries with SOLID—Saving of children’s Lives from Drowning. Based in Bangladesh, the SOLID research project aims to reduce the shocking number of childhood deaths due to drownings.

This year marks a decade of innovation and research in global injury prevention and control for JH-IIRU and the Unit. Founded in 2008 by Dr. Adnan A. Hyder, JH-IIRU was established within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of International Health to respond to the growing burden of injuries worldwide, where injuries cause more than five million deaths every year.