Tragic Toddler Drowning Raises Awareness About the Importance of Survival Swim Lessons

There are many steps we, as parents, take before and while raising our little ones to ensure their safety. We adhere to recommended nutritional guidelines. We diligently follow instructions about the proper installation of infant and booster seats. We take them to the doctor and dentist regularly for their health and well-being.

What is sadly often left off of this list is teaching our infants and toddlers about how to be safe in and around the water.

Drowning remains the leading accidental cause of death in the United States for children aged 1 to 4. Despite this glaring and perpetual statistic, the American Academy of Pediatrics continued to overlook the importance of teaching the youngest and most vulnerable among us how to swim and float until recently when they changed their stance on the age in which children are ready for swimming lessons to around 1 years old thanks to dedicated advocates like Jenny Bennett.

Jenny, a Tomball resident, and her family tragically lost their 18 month old son and brother, Jackson, in 2016 due to an accidental drowning. Having moved from Colorado to a home in Texas with an outdoor pool, they understood that measures would need to be taken to keep their toddler safe. This included adding a lockable dog door and taking their son to “parent and me” swimming classes.

A False Sense of Security

The Bennett’s had one understandable goal when attending swimming lessons with their toddler. They wanted Jackson to feel comfortable in the water. The lessons achieved just that as their son, outfitted in a puddle jumper, regularly splashed and played in the pool alongside his two older sisters that summer.

What should have been a time of fond and beloved memories took a tragic turn for the Bennet family one evening that July. When it was discovered that Jackson wasn’t upstairs playing with his sisters like they thought, Jenny raced out toward the pool only to find the youngest member of her family face down in the water.

Being an emergency room nurse, Jenny immediately took live saving measures on her lifeless son, and he was soon transported to the hospital by ambulance. Despite all efforts, including life support, Jackson was declared brain dead days after the horrible event, and the family made the decision to donate his viable organs.

Jenny acknowledges that no one can know why her son jumped into the pool. He may have been reaching for a toy, though the Bennett’s strongly suspect that it was Jackson’s false sense of confidence in the water, due to his use of a puddle jumper, which resulted in him taking a leap into the pool which he understood to be a fun, exciting and safe place to be.

“We thought these parent-child swimming lessons would set [Jackson] up to be safe in the water and to help him be comfortable,” Jenny says. “But it turns out that it probably gave him a false sense of security and confidence in the water when he wasn’t able to rescue himself.”

Puddle jumpers have long been criticized for giving children a false sense of security when in the pool. Doors, gates and windows – as much as we parents and caregivers try to stay vigilant in keeping them closed and locked – can also be overlooked and accessible for curious and determined children.

Survival Lessons Critical for the Safety and Development of Children

Confidence in the water is only part of what children need to know when being in and around water. Knowing how to survive in an emergency situation should and must be a priority.

There are many misconceptions about what survival swimming is about. Parents fear that their child may be unnecessarily put in a dangerous position and that the lessons will do more harm than good.

Survival swim lessons are safe and enjoyable for infants and toddlers. After being gently introduced to the water, your child’s instructor will guide your little one through a series of steps which teach the child how to roll from their front to their back and float. Children feel calm in the water, they are able to regulate their breathing, and they are able to remain safe until help arrives.

Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning is one of the leading organizations who are working hard on dispelling the many myths surrounding infant survival swimming while raising awareness about drowning and water safety. Jenny Bennett is one of the many parents who have joined the cause in hopes that childhood drowning can be eradicated for good. For more information on this worthy and important organization, we encourage you to visit their site.

To learn more about survival swimming and to register your infant or toddler for survival swimming lessons in the Greater Houston area, please contact Texas Swim Academy 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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How Swimming Lessons Can Help Kids with School

When most parents sign their children up for swim lessons, they do so with the intention of their youngsters learn lifesaving water safety skills. But swimming lessons benefit children in more ways than one. In fact, lessons can even help your child excel in his or her learning at school.

 

Greater Self Confidence

Research has shown that self confidence can have a tremendous impact on how successful your child is at school.

Learning how to swim gives children the opportunity to set goals and work towards them until they have been reached. Swimming shows children that with dedication and practice, he or she can achieve anything they set their mind to. This helps build their self confidence and improves their self worth.

 

Better Social Skills

While swimming is largely thought to be an individual sport, lessons give your child the opportunity to interact with new peers outside of the school environment. Children learn how to behave appropriately around others, how to respect personal space, and lessons reinforce the fact that everyone learns at a different pace.

 

Swim Lessons Burn Off Excess Energy

Children need to get enough exercise during the day to eliminate excess energy. Without exercise, children can have a hard time being calm in the classroom and getting a good night’s rest. This leads to daytime fatigue which will impact his or her academic performance the following day.

 

Learn How to Work as a Team

Taking lessons with other people means learning how to work as a team. Your children will learn that each person on that team – including themselves – plays a key role to the team’s overall success.

Working as a team also teaches your child that his or her attitude can impact the morale of the entire team. They also learn accountability and how to take responsibility for his or her actions.

 

Improved Trust and Respect

Swim lessons allow your child to build a respectful relationship with another adult. They learn that they can trust people beyond their immediate family and that they can rely on others for help.

 

Children’s Swim Lesson at Texas Swim Academy

Texas Swim Academy offers Katy swim lessons to everyone living in the Greater Houston area. We have a variety of swim programs available starting for children as young as six months old!

 

Contact us today at (832) 437-6186 to learn more about infant survival program, survival swim program, our adaptive aquatics program, our group swim lessons 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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A Forgotten Danger: Pool Drain Safety

Have you heard of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGB Act)? It was enacted in 2007 after a 7-year-old girl named Vigrinia Graeme Baker died due to suction from a malfunctioning drain. The powerful suction was even too much for her mother to pull her away from the drain. It took two additional people to finally pull her away, pulling with so much force that the drain cover broke. But it was too late.

It’s important to note that Virginia was a strong swimmer. She was even a member of the local swimming and diving team. But this couldn’t save her against the strength of the suction from the drain.

After this tragic incident, Virginia’s mother worked tirelessly to lobby the government to make sure other families didn’t have the same experience. As a result, in 2007 the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGB Act) was enacted. This Act requires all public pools and hot tubs to have safety measures in place, including anti-entrapment drain covers.

Video: https://youtu.be/oRLG0iICT4w

The VGB Act only requires public pools and hot tubs to have safety measures in place. That means if your child is swimming at a friend’s house or other private pool, it’s vital to make sure it has safe drains. Even more, teach children to simply avoid drains.

At Texas Swim Academy, our focus is on drowning prevention. Letting parents know about the dangers of drains in pools and hot tubs is an important part of that. It’s often an overlooked danger that doesn’t discriminate based on swimming ability. So, please, before you let your kids go swimming make sure they know to stay away from drains and make sure the pool has anti-entrapment drain covers. It’s one more vital key to keeping kids safe.

Source: https://www.poolsafely.gov/simple-safety-steps-series-ensure-all-pools-and-spas-have-vgb-compliant-drain-covers-and-teach-your-children-to-stay-away-from-drains/

 

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!

The post A Forgotten Danger: Pool Drain Safety appeared first on Texas Swim Academy.

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New AAP Guidelines Recommend Swim Lessons for Infants & Toddlers

For the past several years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that children start swimming lessons when they reach the age of 4. Depending on who you ask, it was thought that children who are 4 and older had both the mental and physical ability to follow directions and learn how to swim while younger children did not.

 

Texas Swim Academy is thrilled to share that the AAP has changed their stance and these guidelines have recently changed. A mounting pile of documented proof has stacked up showing that children as young as six months of age can be taught lifesaving water survival skills.

 

What Has Changed?

Sadly, drowning remains the leading cause of injury-related deaths for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old. This is partly because of lack of supervision and the fact that younger children are naturally drawn to pools, ponds, and other bodies of water without fully understanding their dangers.

 

This statistic hasn’t changed over the years, which has spurred a number of infant survival swim courses to be developed by leading professionals. Many experts were wary about the efficacy of these types of classes at first. But the growth in demand for these classes as parents witnessed babies who weren’t even able to walk roll from their front to their backs and paddle to safety has changed many minds in the medical community.

 

Earlier this year the American Academy of Pediatrics officially changed their stance on when children should be introduced to water safety skills. These new recommendations suggest that children should begin swim lessons starting around the age of one as this can significantly reduce drowning rates in young children.

 

Infant Swim Lessons About “Water Competency”

When many hear the words “swim lessons” they think about learning strokes and swimming laps. Infant swim lessons are different in intention. The goal of an infant swim class is to equip children with the skills necessary to safely exit a body of water should they find themselves unexpectedly in a pool or a pond or be able to float independently in order to breathe until rescued.

 

Our classes at Texas Swim Academy also encourage children to feel confident in the water and how to have fun without endangering themselves and others.

 

Your child’s instructor will begin by calmly introducing your youngster to the water so that they feel comfortable at his or her own pace. The instructor will continually build your child’s trust and work with your child to teach him or her crucial lifesaving swim skills appropriate for his or her age and development.

 

Our priority at Texas Swim Academy has always been to protect the lives of children. For more information on our Infant Survival Swim program, we invite 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 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!

The post New AAP Guidelines Recommend Swim Lessons for Infants & Toddlers appeared first on Texas Swim Academy.

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Adaptive Aquatics Swim Lessons Protect Kids with ASD

 

It’s an unfortunate fact that accidental drowning is a leading cause of death for children aged 14 and younger. Sadly, the number of accidental drowning deaths skyrockets for children on the autism spectrum.

According to the National Autism Association, drowning accounted for over 90 percent of total deaths for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) between 2009 and 2011. Even more shocking is that children with ASD are 160 times more likely to die from drowning in comparison to other children.

Why Children with ASD Are at a Greater Risk of Drowning

Wandering and elopement are a common behaviors exhibited by children with autism. This leaves these youngsters more vulnerable to risks like falling, getting hit by a vehicle, and hypothermia.

Water is a very real and serious risk for children with ASD as they tend to gravitate towards bodies of water. Experts have hypothesized that these children seek out water because of its therapeutic qualities. Not only is water visually and audibly engaging, but going underwater can also provide children with ASD much welcomed relief from the sights and sounds around them.

Another compounding issue is that children with autism are less likely to be able to properly assess common risk factors that come with entering the water. They aren’t able to consider challenges like slippery surfaces, strong water currents and lack of adult supervision.

Lisa Mikosh, a parent of an autistic child attending Texas Swim Academy, experienced the very real threat of possibly losing her son with ASD after he had ran half a mile from her and entered a lake. By the time Lisa was able to catch up to and get into the water to try and save her son, he was drowning.

Thanks to a kind stranger nearby, Lisa and her son were pulled from the lake and they survived. But this terrible experience made Lisa realize that the swim instruction she and her husband had provided their autistic son simply wasn’t enough to ensure his survival.

 

Why Adaptive Aquatic Swim Lessons Are the Solution

Autistic children often do not thrive in standard swimming lessons. Instructors don’t know how to communicate with children with ASD and these children are left feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and disengaged.

Here at Texas Swim Academy, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn water safety and survival in a compassionate and caring space. That is why we offer Adaptive Aquatic Swim Lessons that are customized to meet the unique needs of your child.

We provide children with a comfortable and reassuring environment to learn and practice fundamental lifesaving water and swim skills. Our experienced instructors are specifically trained in autistic swim instruction and are able to effectively communicate and teach with swimmers with ASD.

April is Autism Awareness month, and we want to make sure that all children on the spectrum and their families are given the gift of confidence when they are in and around water. To learn more about our Adaptive Aquatics Swim Lessons, stop on by the Texas Swim Academy facility in Katy 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!

The post Adaptive Aquatics Swim Lessons Protect Kids with ASD appeared first on Texas Swim Academy.

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What to Expect at a Swim Clinic

Beginner and seasoned swimmers alike have specific goals they want to reach, and there’s no better time to start working toward those goals than through a swim team clinic with Texas Swim Academy.

Unlike traditional swimming lessons which are to teach children how to swim, our swim team clinics here at Texas Swim Academy are designed to prepare your child for joining a swim team. Children are given the chance to swim the length of the pool while also being taught proper swim technique, breath control and rotation.

Our experienced instructors also go over what is expected of your child at swim team tryouts. This way your child knows exactly what it takes for them to deliver their best performance.

 

How to Prepare Children For a Swim Clinic

Kids who join our swim team clinic must be able to swim the entire length of the pool unassisted. Before joining a clinic, it’s also a good idea to assess your child’s swimming strengths, weaknesses, goals, and opportunities to improve.

Another great way to prepare children for a swim clinic is to take them to the pool! Swimming on a regular basis not only improves your child’s fitness, but it allows him or her to fine tune their skills in a fun, pressure-free environment.

 

Swim Team Clinic Details

Beginning Saturday, March 2, our prep clinics are in full swing through the end of April. Children will be taught to swim with proper technique, breath control and rotation. Booking all sessions is not necessary, as you may pick the dates you’d like to attend.

Clinics are offered the following Saturdays in March: 2nd, 9th, 23rd and 30th; as well as the following Saturdays in April: 6th, 13th and 27th.

We offer four different session times depending on your swimmer’s age:

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. 4 & 5 year olds

1:30 – 2:00 p.m. 6 year olds

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 7 & 8 year olds

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 9 and up

The fees are $20/session for 4 to 6 year olds; and $30/session for ages 7 and up.

 

Don’t Wait to Register Your Child in a Katy Swim Team Clinic!

Texas Swim Academy proudly offers a number of swim team clinics in Katy for children at the age of four and up. Limited spaces are available, so don’t delay and register for one of our renowned swim team clinics by calling (832) 437-6186 or email us at info@texasswimacademy.com today.

 

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 Importance of Swim Lessons Before Family Vacations

Almost every family vacation includes a fun-filled aquatic adventure. Whether it’s splashing in the hotel pool, wave jumping in the ocean or paying a visit to a nearby water park, teaching kids to be safe around water is critical for their health and safety.

Swim lessons before vacations are the best way to make sure your kids are ready for the water this spring and summer. Here are three reasons why it’s important to invest the time into lessons, and how not only your child but your entire family can enjoy the benefits.

 

1. Safety

Family vacations are a time to unwind and let loose. Unfortunately, this more easy-going atmosphere can increase a child’s risk of injury, particularly in and around water.

Your child’s safety is paramount here at Texas Swim Academy. Our instructors take the time to teach children of all skill levels age-appropriate ways to be safer around the water.

Each lesson your child takes reinforces and builds upon the safety lessons taught in a previous course. This increases the likelihood of your child drawing from that critical lifesaving information should he or she find themselves in an unsafe situation.

 

2. Confidence

Water confident and happy children are those who aren’t afraid of being near the water. This is important since it’ll help make them less likely to panic (the leading cause of drowning for children) in a stressful situation in the water.

Swim lessons before vacations teach kids that they are in control when they’re in the water. We give kids the tools they need to make wise and sensible decisions about what they should do in the pool, at the lake or in the ocean based on their skills and abilities.

Lessons also give parents peace of mind. When a parent feels more confident in their child’s abilities, having their kids around the water will be less stressful. Whether you’re aware of it or not, your kids read how you react to situations, so your relaxed mood will help them feel more at ease as well.

 

3. Freedom

Swim lessons give kids the freedom to experience and enjoy the water in their own way, both with a parent and independently. Developing a strong swim skill set also allows kids to attend other fun events throughout spring and summer, like backyard swim get-togethers and birthday pool parties with their friends and family.

Swim lessons before vacations are the ideal way to ensure that everyone has a great time on your next family adventure. From infancy to adult classes, Texas Swim Academy offers a range of courses perfect for all ages and abilities. Click here to register for one of our swim programs today!

 

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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