Hope Always

As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

I was impacted by breast cancer after my own mother was diagnosed at age 36. She died from the disease at the age of 39.

As a nurse, I have always been interested in acute and curative medicine. When looking at charitable giving, I naturally drift toward health-related causes, however the business woman in me looks at organizations that are very effective in their mission. I have always had a strong desire to support breast cancer work. In my research, I found Terry Arnold and the IBC Network Foundation. I loved the mission of funding research for late stage inflammatory breast cancers. For several years, I have followed the progress of the Foundation and have been a supporter. I am excited to now be a member of the Board of Directors and assist in growing the organization and funding life changing research.

On Sunday, October 13, Texas Swim Academy is excited to host the Hunt For Hope – Katy. A family friendly scavenger hunt. We are trying to raise $50,000 to support the IBC research at MD Anderson. 100% of the money raised will go to this cause. To learn more about Inflammatory Breast Cancer and what we are doing, visit our website www.theibcnetwork.org

Join us for the Hunt for Hope Katy and participate. You can set up your page on Reason2Race and fundraise! Your registration fee for the Hunt gets you an event shirt. It is $25 for adults and kids under 16 participate at no cost.

https://my.reason2race.com/account/register/IBCNetwork/HuntforHopeTexas2019 

Thank you for considering this wonderful cause.

Hope Always,

Kathleen McMordie

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Year-Round Swimming Lessons Make A Difference for Your Child

Well-meaning parents operate with the best intentions, and when it comes to swimming lessons, many parents are intentional in signing their kids up for lessons during the spring and summer months in preparation for the many fun-filled days they plan on spending by the pool. But what about what many consider the “off-season?” Are swimming lessons still important during the months when swimming isn’t as prominent? 

The answer is without a doubt yes! Children are sponges, constantly taking everything in and absorbing the lessons being presented to them on a daily basis. Not only that, children are everchanging and growing each day. The importance of year-round swimming lessons goes beyond just practicing their skills; it’s vital to keep their swimming skills sharp as they grow and change developmentally. 

When it Comes to Katy Swimming Lessons, Consistency is Key

Mastering any new skill requires consistency. Children who regularly attend swimming lessons advance far more quickly and remember the skills they learned previously while adopting new and more advanced techniques.

But remaining in swimming lessons isn’t only about moving up the ranks. More importantly, year-round Katy swimming lessons give your child the ability to save his or her life, or the life of someone else in the future, should they find themselves in an aquatic emergency.

Drowning Knows No Season

The reality is, childhood drownings most often happen during non-swim times. It only takes seconds for a curious child to wander off before even the most devoted parent notices. It’s in those moments that children who have been properly taught the survival skills necessary to get themselves safely to the edge of the pool or at least into the floating position until an adult arrives can survive.

Year-round swimming lessons should be an integral part of a child’s life, no matter if they live in a home that has a pool or not. Accidental drownings can happen anywhere, at any time, and parents need to understand the value of equipping their children with such lifesaving skills. These skills are just as important of properly installing a car seat in your car and keeping your child safe, or taking your kids to their annual physicals to ensure they are healthy and properly growing. 

No one can predict their child’s personality and curiosities. And no one can certainly ever predict that they’d become that family whose child drowns. But being proactive and giving your kids the very skills that could save their lives at an early age (the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends kids around the age of 1 begin swimming lessons), matters.

Other Benefits of Year-Round Swimming Lessons

There’s no question that swimming lessons both improve the physical and mental well-being of children. It’s a great way for children to burn off excess energy during those months when going out for a bike ride or playing at the playground may be less than appealing due to inclement weather.

Swimming is also a great way for children to form new relationships with their peers. It’s a well-known way to strengthen bonds with friends and family members. And at Texas Swim Academy, we consider all of our students a part of our family! In fact, we look forward to watching your child grow throughout their lessons and become confident and strong swimmers. 

Join Texas Swim Academy for Fun Fridays!

We here at Texas Swim Academy are committed to supporting new and experienced swimmers alike. That’s why beginning Sept. 13, 2019, all students who attend our school are welcome to join us for Fun Fridays!

Parents, their children, and their TSA pals can splash, play and work on their swim skills together in our state-of-the-art Katy swimming pool facility at no charge! The pool is open from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. and the program will continue to run every Friday through May 22nd, 2020.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and come take a dip with Texas Swim Academy today. We look forward to seeing you there.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!

 

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Understanding When Childhood Drowning Most Often Occurs

When people picture what it looks like to drown, many see a cartoon-like image of someone wildly flailing their arms and splashing while bobbing about in the middle of a pool or a lake. What people don’t realize is that drowning is almost always nearly silent, and it doesn’t take a large body of water for it to happen, nor does it always happen while people are actually in the pool and swimming together.

Drowning Doesn’t Always Occur When a Child Is Swimming

Sometimes a swimming child will find him or herself in a situation where he or she needs help in order to avoid an emergency when in the pool, lake or ocean during a planned swimming session. But the reality is, drownings most often occur when people aren’t even swimming.

It takes only seconds for a youngster to unknowingly leave the home through an unlocked sliding glass door, through a backyard gate and even through a pet or “doggie” door. And sadly, this is the typical situation for childhood drowning.

This can, and has, happened to even the best of parents for a variety of reasons. 

1. Distraction

Parents and caregivers responsible for watching over kids often multitask and are engaged in other activities like food preparation, checking emails, doing laundry and so many other daily activities that are necessary.

2. Distance

Younger children who are not within eyesight of a responsible parent or caregiver are at a much greater risk of drowning. Even a quick trip to the bathroom or running into the kitchen to grab a snack can be potentially hazardous for a curious child.

3. False Sense of Security

Security in numbers is something far too few of us rely on. This is something which resonates with the friends and family of Levi Hughes, a beautiful 3-year-old boy who suffered a tragic drowning after quietly exiting a room filled with children and responsible adults. It’s vital to never assume someone else is watching a child. 

Katy Swim Lessons a Proven Preventative Measure in Drowning

In 2018, drowning claimed the lives of 91 children in Texas. Swimming lessons play a critical role in teaching children to have a healthy respect for the water and how to survive should they find themselves in a dangerous, life-threatening situation.

Children around the age of one can successfully learn valuable life-saving swim skills which ensures that they can remain safe should they find themselves in an unanticipated dangerous aquatic environment.

The Survival Swim Lessons taught here at Katy’s Texas Swim Academy ease precious youngsters into the water. Once comfortable, our knowledgeable and trained instructors work with babies and toddlers to teach them how to easily roll from their fronts to their backs in the water and then float until found.

For children who are in preschool or elementary school, we offer private lessons as well as group lessons that are geared towards teaching children important swim skills and how to be respectful of the water in a fun and engaging environment.

We also understand that children on the autism spectrum can particularly be drawn to water. This is why we offer our highly specialized Adaptive Aquatics program so that children of any ability can learn critical water survival skills while still having a great time in the water.

For more details on our swim programs, we invite you to contact us online, stop by our Katy swim facility or give us a call at (832) 437-6186.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!

 

 

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5 Reasons to Take Year-Round Swimming Lessons in Katy

When the warm weather hits, swimming lessons in Katy are at the top of every parent’s list. After all, swim lessons are a great way to keep a child physically active while still encouraging youngsters to learn valuable life-saving skills.

Unfortunately, families have the tendency to cool off from swim lessons when the weather wanes and chills. But there are many compelling reasons why families should continue year-round swimming lessons in Houston and Katy:

1. Swimming Lessons in Katy Mean Kids Will Maintain and Grow Their Skills

Take a child (or an adult!) out of swimming lessons for a few weeks and a lot of what they have learned – and much of their physical development – may be lost. By enrolling children in Katy swim lessons year-round, children are able to retain their skills while also developing their swim skills both mentally and physically.

2. Kid Thrive On Routine

It’s no secret that children do best when they are on a schedule. Having Katy swim lessons as part of their regular learning helps them stick to that routine. Children will continue to feel confident when in and around water, they will feel safe in knowing that they can protect themselves in threatening aquatic situations, and they will know that they can have fun with family and friends when in the pool or ocean.

3. Swimming Complements Other Activities

Katy swim lessons complement so many other activities your children are engaged in. Because swimming builds stamina and listening skills while developing all muscle groups, children enrolled in year-long swim lessons often also perform well in other activities like soccer, dance, football, and gymnastics.

4. Swimming Relieves Stress

Children have a lot of stress which often goes unacknowledged by adults. From educational pressures to social pressures to developing themselves as an individual, growing up can be pretty rough.

Swimming lessons at Texas Swim Academy give kids a much-needed reprieve from what their day throws at them. In our supportive and friendly environment, kids can toss the problems of the day away and focus on improving their swimming skills among supportive peers who will be rooting for their success.

5. Kids Get Exercise In The Off-Season

While the weather may not be as unfriendly in Katy as it is in other areas of the country during the fall and winter, sporting activities slow when the weather cools.

Because our facility is indoors and the waters of our pools are always kept at friendly temperatures, children can’t wait to jump in and go for a splash and swim. Children maintain their fitness when they participate in year-round swim lessons while also burning off some much-needed energy in the process.

Explore Your Katy Swimming Lesson Options at Texas Swim Academy

Leaders in Katy swimming lessons, Texas Swim Academy can help direct you to the right type of lesson to best support an infant, child, tween, teen or adult! We offer both group and one-on-one training provided by fulled trained and experienced instructors who can provide custom guidance to ensure that your swimming development goals are met.

For more details, we welcome you to contact us online or by phone at (832) 437-6186.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!

 

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Three Reasons to Enroll Your Child in Survival Swim Lessons

Gone are the days when it was thought kids should be in preschool before they learn how to swim. As we now know (and as the American Academy of Pediatrics now openly acknowledges), children as young as one year of age should be taking survival swim lessons.

A parent’s knee-jerk reaction to this is fear. Fear of their child being injured in the water, fear of their child suffering emotionally, fear of the lessons themselves leading to a drowning incident. But it has been proven time and time again that survival swim lessons – lessons where babies learn to roll from their front to their backs and float – are an important life-saving skill.

The primary reason for enrolling your baby in survival swim lessons is simple: It can save your baby’s life. But there are a host of other reasons as well, including:

1. Water Confidence and Competency

Experiencing water in a positive and fun way is what we’re all about at Texas Swim Academy. Your child is gently introduced to the pool and taught that being in the water can be fun and enjoyable! We then build upon that confidence when the time is right by gradually teaching your child essential swim survival skills.

You may be surprised to find that as your child’s confidence grows, yours will too! You’re giving yourself peace of mind in knowing that your youngster has the ability to save him or herself should they be placed in a dangerous aquatic situation.

2. Building Stronger Bodies

As cute and tiny as your little one may be, he or she is amazingly strong! Survival swim lessons are a great way to help your child continue to build stronger muscles, and the physical activity means that they’ll likely enjoy a deeper and longer night’s sleep (which is a benefit for parents too, of course!).

3. Growing Sharper Minds

Survival swim lessons require your child to be able to respond to voice commands. Taking these lessons both increases their level of understanding and sharpens their cognitive skills.

Sound too good to be true? Griffith University in Australia conducted a study that found that children who swam in their early years (before kindergarten) were ahead of their non-swimming peers by as much as 15 months when it came to language, numerical literacy, and following direction.

At Texas Swim Academy, we offer swimming lessons for all ages and abilities. Contact us online or give us a call at (832) 4376-6186 to learn more about our Houston infant swim lessons, group lessons, adult programs and more!

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!

 

 

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The Six Layers of Protection for Maximum Pool Safety

Drowning is quick, silent and it’s 100 percent preventable. Sadly, according to the World Health Organization, an estimated 360,000 drowning deaths occur worldwide with children having access to water being among those at the greatest risk. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to pool safety. This is why drowning prevention advocates have developed what is known as the “Six Layers of Protection” for infants and children.

Layer 1: Stay Within Arm’s Reach of Your Child

Young children should never be left near a source of standing water without an attentive and responsible adult nearby. Pools and hot tubs are obvious sources of danger, but keep in mind that kiddie pools, bathtubs, and even water tables are a risk to the youngest and most vulnerable among us.

Layer 2: Adult Supervision Is a Must

When kids are near water, there should be a minimum of one adult “water watcher” present at all times. This individual should have his or her attention fixed on the pool. This means no smartphones, no books, no distractions.

Layer 3: Teach Children How to Survival Swim

A common misconception is that children under the age of four are incapable of learning how to swim. This couldn’t be further from the truth. And the American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their stance to reflect the fact that children around the age of 1 are capable of learning lifesaving survival swim techniques. 

Texas Swim Academy offers Survival Swim lessons taught by trained swim experts. Not only do these lessons help your little one feel more comfortable in the water, but they will also learn how to safely roll from front to back in case of an emergency situation and float calmly in the water until they are rescued.

Layer 4: Create Several Pool Safety Barriers

The more walls – both physical and metaphorical – you can put between people and the pool, the better. All pool fences, gates, alarms, and drains should meet governing regulations. Potential escape routes like pet doors should be removed or secured. Pool and hot tub covers should be sturdy and not collapse should a little one crawl on top of it.

Layer 5: Make Pool Safety Equipment Easily Accessible

Lifesavers aren’t a decoration for your pool area. They’re a valuable drown prevention tool. Other pieces of pool safety equipment to keep nearby includes buoys, throw ropes, pool safety signs and a first aid kit.

Layer 6: Learn CPR

Older children, teens, and adults are all capable of learning CPR. Take the time to learn and then review lifesaving rescue techniques and strategies before each pool season, or at least once a year. Standard first aid and CPR courses are taught in every city and can easily be found with one quick internet search.

For more information about Texas Swim Academy’s Survival Swim lessons and other swim programs for kids and adults, we welcome you to give us a call at (832) 437-6186.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as

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Survival Swim Lessons Reduces Drowning Risk

As temperatures begin to soar, school comes to an end and the workday is over, we all have one thing on our minds: Let’s get in the water! Whether it’s hanging out in the pool, the lake, the ocean or even heading out on a motorboat, we all love cooling off by spending time in and around the water.

The unfortunate fact is that drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, and it is the third leading cause of accidental death for those between 5 and 19. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, close to 1,000 children died from drowning in 2017, and nearly 9,000 hospital emergency room visits were due to a water-related injury.

American olympic skier Bode Miller and his family became a part of those statistics last year when their daughter died due to accidental drowning. On June 10, 2018 during their time at a friend’s house, 19 month old Emmy slipped away from a room filled with adults and other children. The next time he was seen was moments later in the deep end of a pool.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time the Miller family had suffered a loss due to drowning. Bode Miller’s first cousin, Jeffrey, had also wandered from the front steps of his home as a child and was found in a large hole filled with rain water.

Nicole Hughes also suffered an unimaginable loss on the same day as the Miller family, when after splitting a brownie with her 3-year-old son, Levi, he managed to quietly leave a room filled with adults and children. Shortly thereafter he was found face down in a pool.

Through her tragedy, the Hughes family was able to raise awareness regarding the importance of survival swim lessons being taught at a young age and were instrumental in the American Academy of Pediatrics recently changing their recommendations regarding the age in which children should start swimming lessons. 

Layers of Protection Needed to Prevent Drowning

Pool fencing, self-locking gates and alarms are not a luxury – they are a necessity for everyone, whether or not there is a child in the home. Spa and hot tub covers with locks, emptied wading pools and emptied bath tubs are also needed to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us from suffering an untimely death.

The Hughes family decided to turn their tragedy into a positive drowning awareness campaign and have added a layer of protection of their own. They have created a “Water Guardians: Levi’s Legacy” tag and lanyard which reminds everyone who is in charge of supervising those who are in and around the water.

Survival Swim Lessons Save Lives

Another critical layer of protection for youngsters are swim lessons. But not just any kind of swimming lessons. 

Earlier this year, through the dedication and perseverance of families like the Millers and Hughes’s, the AAP updated its swim guidelines to now state that swim lessons are recommended for children starting at or around the age of 1. Research has indicated that starting swim lessons when children are this young may help reduce drowning rates for toddlers and preschoolers.

Survival swim lessons are not like traditional swim lessons, which typically focus on strokes and swim skills. Instead, youngsters are gradually introduced to the water by a trained and certified instructor and are then taught three lifesaving skills: surface, roll back to float position and breath, and then swim to the wall. These important skills teach the child to remain calm as they wait for someone to retrieve them from the water.

The survival swim lessons at Texas Swim Academy are done with the utmost care and concern. Our accomplished swim instructors work with children to create positive associations with the water, and we guide them through the steps necessary to teach toddlers and preschoolers how to roll from their tummies to their backs so that they can float and remain safe until found.

For more information about our Houston survival swim program, we invite you to read more about our program or give us a call at (832) 437-6186.

 

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