At a Fourth of July picnic surrounded by family and friends, 3-year old Ryan wandered away from the crowd into a nearby lake, turning the holiday celebration into a tragic event. Recently, a two year old was playing near a waterfall at a local mall when he tumbled into the water. He was floating motionless, face down in the water when his mother jumped in to save him.
According to Contemporary Pediatrics (July, 1999) in eighteen states, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children one to four years of age. Children are naturally drawn to pools, hot tubs, ditches, ponds and lakes. Despite a parent’s best efforts, it only takes one head turn before an accident has occurred.
Giving infants and toddlers, who have no fear of water, aquatic survival skills provides extra protection at a time when they are most vulnerable to drowning. Nevertheless, many parents still feel that lessons for infants or young toddlers are not necessary because they are always watching. However, the risk factor multiplies when there is more than one child for a parent to supervise around water. And although supervision is the single most important deterrent to drowning, who can say they constantly keep their eyes and hands on an active two-year old?
Water can be a deadly environment for the unskilled child. Flotation devices: water wings, floaties, swim trainers and the like foster a false sense of security. Children like Ryan, accustomed to wearing such devices, frequently meet tragedy when they enter the water without them. It makes no sense to allow an unskilled child to freely explore the water. First teach him to swim and roll to his back, the skills needed to survive in the water; the comfort and enjoyment will follow naturally and safely. Even when parents do enroll their children in swim lessons, many are disappointed when they don’t learn to swim. Understanding the widespread differences in swim programs will enable you to make an informed decision when selecting a swim program for your child.
Evaluating different programs can be challenging – here are a few pointers. Check out the facility, observe lessons, and interview other parents whose children have participated in the program you are considering. Notice the progress the students are making during lessons. Is the instructor working with one child or a group of children? Is the child/children responding to the instructor or sitting on the steps? Are the students learning how to handle real life situations? For example, can they get back to the steps should they fall off? Can they float independently, or only with assistance? Do they know how to roll over and maintain the essential survival back float?
The person you place in charge of your child’s aquatic education should be an experienced professional, capable of teaching the most reluctant student. The choice of your child’s swimming instructor may be as important as his preschool or pediatrician.
While on a sailing vacation with her family, 2-year-old Camille walked alongside her mother and 5-year-old brother atop a concrete pier five feet above the ocean marina. She turned to say something to her mother, fell into the 12-foot deep, oily, jellyfish infested water and disappeared into the blackness below. Her mother, paralyzed with fear, was unable to move. After what seemed like an eternity, Camille reappeared on the water’s surface, floating on her back and breathing normally. She remained floating for several minutes until she could be rescued. Camille’s mother had enrolled her in survival swimming lessons as an infant. She credits these lessons with saving her daughter’s life.
Today’s parents are bombarded with a myriad of advice on raising children. Take time investigating the differences in swim programs. Be particular --your child’s life may depend on it.
Judy Heumann, founder of Infant Aquatics, is a learn to swim specialist who has been teaching Boulder County’s youngest reside nts to safely enjoy the water fo r over three decades. In 2010 she opened Swim•Float•Swim! in Longmont. Her facility is dedicated solely to teaching infants and young children lifesaving survival skills. For more information visit www.swimfloatswim.com.
