January 30, 2008

BACK

Survival Swim Classes Teach Toddlers to Flip, Float, and Survive

Swim clubs around the country are offering “survival” swim classes for toddlers and their parents. Designed to forestall drowning, a leading cause of accidental death among children aged 1-4 years, they aim to teach the very young to survive falling into a pool, spa or other body of water.
In Texas, the Houston Swim Club teaches toddlers to “flip and float.” In Florida, Arizona, the Midwest and elsewhere, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)-certified teachers train toddlers to alternate floating with dog paddling until they reach a handhold.
 
Do the classes work? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “no data are available to determine if infant and toddler aquatic programs increase or decrease the likelihood of drowning.” Whether statistically effective or not, toddler survival swim classes are an encouraging sign of growing safety awareness.