Swimming Lessons for Drowning Prevention

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its guidance to include a recommendation that children as young as one year of age receive swimming lessons. This is part of the overall drowning prevention campaign put in place by the AAP and is intended to provide children with the survival skills they need to stay afloat until they can reach safety or are rescued by an older companion. The right swimming lessons are a solid step in the right direction for drowning prevention programs and child safety initiatives.

Florida Leads in Child Drowning Deaths in U.S.

According to statistics compiled by the USA Swimming Foundation, Florida led the nation in drownings of children aged 15 and younger in 2017. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death in children aged one to four throughout the United States. Of the 269 fatal drowning incidents involving children that were reported in 2017, 51 took place in the state of Florida. Finding ways to protect children against drowning is critical for their safety and well-being. The right swimming lessons are an excellent way to provide greater protection for children of all ages.

Drowning Prevention at Baby Otter Swim School

Finding the right program is essential to achieve the best results. Parents should look for swimming lessons that focus on survival skills and that are designed for babies and toddlers as well as for older children. Programs that offer simple and easy to understand instructions are best for younger children and will allow them to take care of themselves in the water after an accidental fall or a venture into water that is too deep for them to navigate.

The friendly and caring swim instructors at Baby Otter Swim School have been teaching children as young as nine months and adults of any age to swim since 1975. Our teachers use the Turn-Kick-Reach® method, which is a proven life-saving strategy for even the youngest children. This easy-to-understand teaching method will provide outstanding results in just five lessons. If you are interested in requesting more information or in scheduling a consecutive five-day class for your home or community, call us today at 1-888-794-6543. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.