A Close Call

This is a letter sent to us from a USSA family:

It was just another family day in our pool, with Lily sitting on the stairs playing with her water toys. Since starting swim lessons Lily has become more adventurous, and on that day, decided she wanted to float on a raft with her sister. We were excited! While drifitng in the center of our pool, with daddy close by, her older sister playfully flipped the raft and Lily went under and instantly began to sink. In a state of PANIC I was ready to jump in and my husband wasalready swimming to her.

What happened next still has us speechless! That is when we saw Lily pop-up out of the water for air and frantically look for the stairs. Lily then put her arms straight out in front of her (that is the "superman" glide she learned!). She began kicking vigorously until she reached the stairs. Keep in mind it was half the length of
of our pool! Once she was safe, she began coughing for she obviously swallowed water. To our amazement she NEVER cried! When we asked Lily if she was okay, she said yes and went right back in the water! Really?!

My husband and I were in shock! Our Lily used to cry in the bath tub if you splashed water on her face. Now she has the confidence to swim! The fact that she applied what Coach Diane taught her (in under 10 lessons) when in a state of PANIC no less...has my husband and I convinced that what Lily has learned at the US Swim Academy is PRICELESS!!

Since this incident and further lessons with Coach Diane, Lily has a new found passion for swimming. It is going to make this summer all that more fun for our family.

I am sharing this story with all parents so they can see that lessons are a necessity and that they DO work!!
The confidence and trust that Coach Diane has established with our daughter is amazing and has meant so much to us all. We will always be grateful.

Thank you forever, US Swim Academy!!!

The DaGrosa Family
Lily (3 years old)

Sooner Rather Than Later

“I was amazed last week when I had girls over to swim from my daughter’s girl scout troop. Many of these girls had to wear water wings because they couldn’t swim. Their mother’s didn’t even get in the water because they couldn’t swim. I tried to work with the girls and help them and eventually we took off the wings, but some of them need lessons. I really need to find a way to incorporate this into a scout lesson in the fall and get these mother’s in the water as well. I will look for a service that can help us.”

This is a concerned mother’s comment on an article in the Sun Sentinel about the signs of drowning. We have all probably noticed this phenomenon of children not knowing how to swim. The next logical question that should come to mind is: Why? Why don’t they know how to swim yet? Why aren’t these parents enrolling their children in swim lessons?

But, before we go into the why of the matter, let’s look at a different why. Why does it matter that kids get swim lessons? “According to a 2009 study conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Heath and Human Development, children who participate in formal swimming lessons are less likely to drown. The study found that among 61 children ages 1—4 who had died from drowning, only three percent had ever taken formal swimming lessons. By contrast, 26 percent of the children in the general population had received some type of formal lessons. In addition, parent interviews reflected that only five percent of the swimmers who drowned could float on their back for 10 seconds, while 18 percent of those who didn’t drown could float for at least 10 seconds.”

And there are several possible answers to the question of why parents aren’t signing their kids up for swim lessons. But, none of them justify the decision to postpone swim lessons for your child. For some parents, it is just a matter of laziness. They just haven’t gotten around to it, like anything else on their long lists of things to do as a parent. But, this one needs to be moved to the top of the list. We are talking about our children’s lives here.

Cost may be another issue that is keeping parents from getting their children in swim lessons. I’m not going to go into much detail on that reason here, because I have already written a whole piece on it. You can read it here.

Some parents may also be worried for health reasons. They may be wary of the chlorine in the pool affecting their child’s skin, breathing, or allergies. But, it would take an extreme amount of exposure to become a health risk.  Parents might also think children could ingest too much water and that this could also lead to health issues. But, today’s instruction methods are much gentler; children are no longer being plunged into the water at most pools.

Others may also have had bad experiences and may have been scared off of lessons all together. I know that this is the case for me. I am ashamed to say, especially as someone who works for a swim school, that my children have yet to have ongoing swim lessons. And this is mostly due to a bad experience a few years back with an old-school instructor.

But, I am proud to say, my kids are starting swim lessons tomorrow! Better late than never. But, I wish I had started years ago and not given up. My children would be much safer around water and I wouldn’t have to worry as much as I do when they are near water. Summer hasn’t even officially begun and we have already had two days at a pool and one at the beach. These kids need to know how to swim!

So, if you haven’t enrolled your child in swim lessons, think about the reasons. And decide if these reasons are really valid and important enough to postpone teaching your child life-saving skills.

Superhero Swim Instructors

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No! It’s your child’s swim instructor! Swim coaches are not just instructors; they are life-savers. And, as life-savers, they are superheroes, doing the same job that Superman or Batman aims to do. They may not wear red capes or run faster than a speeding bullet, but they are saving children’s lives every day.

By teaching your children how to swim, swim instructors are teaching them to be safer around all kinds of water and situations, from pool parties to beach outings. Children who know how to float, how to swim to the edge of the pool, and how to climb out of the pool can save their own lives. But, really, what saves them is the coaching from their swim instructor. And we all know what a real threat drowning is, especially in our area, as we watch more and more stories of childhood drowning on TV and read them in the newspaper.

But, swimming is not just a life-saving skill; it is a life skill. Think of the countless vacation activities you may engage in that involve water: fishing, boating, canoeing, paddle boarding, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Children must know how to swim in order to be able to be a part of the fun as they are growing up.

And, many professions your child may choose will require swimming skills and/or will take place near water. Some jobs that require swimming skills are an EMT, fire fighter, the armed services, and the Coast Guard. Ask any parent who does not know how to swim and you will hear how concerned they are about not having water rescue skills. You don’t want your child to grow up without these skills.

And swim instructors are creating some of the superheroes of the future too! Knowing how to swim and swim well will have a significant impact on your child’s choice of careers, living situations, and vacationing. Swim coaches are inspiring children to become swim instructors when they grow up. So, if your child is enrolled in swimming lessons, he or she may live out a dream: to be a super hero one day!

Know the Signs of Drowning

Do you think you would know if your child was drowning? You might be surprised. Drowning doesn’t look or sound the way you expect it to. There is often no splashing, screaming, or waving of hands. Drowning can be a silent killer.

About 375 children drown each year within 25 yards of their parent. In some of these cases, 

according to the Centers for Disease Control, the parent is watching the child, but misses the signs of drowning. As a parent, you need to be aware of the warning signs that your child may be drowning.

When a child is drowning, the respiratory system focuses on breathing first, so it may be impossible for him or her to call out for help. A drowning child is not likely to wave for help either. Their arms will probably be extended laterally in order to press down on the surface of the water. Their arms are therefor too busy to wave.

It may even seem that a drowning child is taking in breaths, because his or her mouth will often go above and below the water. Drowning also occurs very rapidly. It may take just 20 to 60 seconds of struggling before a child’s body submerges below the water.

Other signs to look out for:

Hyperventilating or gasping

Head low in the water, mouth at water level or head tilted back with mouth open.

Legs not moving

Glassy or unfocused eyes

Watching your child while he or she is in the water is not enough; you also have to watch for the signs of drowning.


Find out more here.

Try, Try Again

Remember my daughter, Ruby's, first swimming lesson at USSA? Well, if you recall, it went swimmingly. So, we were excited for the second lesson. But, was Ruby all smiles and giggles this time? No. Actually, that word about sums it up. "No." That was all she would say to any request the swimming coach made. "Blow your bubbles, Ruby." "No!" "Turn over on your back, Ruby." "No!" Now, there's the child I'm used to at home. 

So, this experience, needless to say, was disappointing. I ran into her swimming coach after the lesson and shared my frustration. She assured me that this phenomenon of the second nightmare lesson is very common. Children can sense things, as we all know. So, they know parents' expectations have been raised now and they have more to live up to. She even recommended that, after the first lesson, parents should not overwhelm their little ones with kudos. Kids do not like to disappoint their parents and often shut down rather than let their parents down. Swimming lessons are also just like any other learning experience. There will be gains and set-backs, a step forward and then a step back. Children need time to absorb all that they are learning.

There are several things we, as parents, can do to help make sure the lesson goes as well as possible:

1. For the first lesson, arrive 20 minutes early so that your child can process everything that is going on at the school.

2. Expect your child will have appropriate behaviors. Talk about what is appropriate in the positive - " Ruby, be sure and talk to the teacher using your words so he/she can help you." If you expect a major fiasco of screaming and tears, you probably will get it!  Besides, who says swimming lessons have to be frightening - not us! 

If your child is having a difficult swimming lesson, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Children are not built to be put in life threatening situations, real or perceived. Never leave your child alone with an instructor. A very scared child can't learn. If a child believes she is in real danger, the brain uses it fear or fight mechanism which will cause cortisol to be secreted,  which can be harmful.

2. Give the swimming coach the full lesson time if your child is not in terror. Often, the child needs time and the teacher needs time to find which one of her teaching tools will work best with your child. 

Remember, here at USSA, your child is enrolled in developmental lessons. The swimming coach will take into account the child's state of mind and will work from the developmental stage he or she is at.

Not every lesson will be perfect, but not every one will be difficult either. So, remember what we tell our children. Don't give up! Try, try again!

"Quickie" Swimming Lessons: A Big Mistake

The following is a letter written by the executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, in response to a parent's request for "quickie" swimming lessons:

I heard from the US Swim Academy that you would like to take “quickie” swim lessons. A “guarantee” that your child can roll over or float is not a guarantee that your child will not drown. These lessons merely state that your child can roll over on their back when prompted by the instructor.

There is a big difference between survival lessons (quickie lessons) and water safety lessons. Building skills upon skills in a skills progression that builds one upon the other is the best way for your child to learn, any skill. Just like any other set of skills, like riding a bike or learning to read, you have to start and build your skills level. Once you learn one skill, you repeat and then learn another skill. Think of it like the learning to read. First, you have to learn to say your abc’s, then you learn to recognize the letters, then you learn to start putting the letters together, then your first word is cat. And that takes pretty much all of their first year of preschool. But once they learn these letters, it never leaves them because of the progression of learning. Swimming is exactly the same way.

In order for your child not to panic later in life in any water scenario, they have to have these skill sets ingrained in their memory. I would like to encourage you to rethink the “quickie” solution. Just like in tennis or anything else, you can’t learn any sport/skill in a week. It may take years, but you are building the necessary synapses for your child’s brain to develop into a smarter, more social, more coordinated child.

The Cost of Safety

At United States Swim Academy, we can and do reduce the risk of childhood drowning as part of our daily activities. What is that worth to you? Because we often hear that swimming lessons are too expensive. Are they really? If you are willing to spend money on the newest technology or a lavish birthday party for your little one, shouldn’t you be willing to pay the price for your child’s safety?

Invest in your child’s future by completing their water safety and swimming training. Some training is not enough to save your child. Their swimming lessons must be completed if you want to be sure they are safer around water. And these lessons don’t just affect your son or daughter for a short time; completing their training here at USSA ensures a lifetime of water safety and confidence. A party is over in a few hours. An iPod is outdated in a few months. A child’s swimming ability lasts forever.

Something is expensive when it does not deliver value for the money, time, or effort. That is not the definition of our swimming lessons program! We deliver risk-reducing swimming lessons for all children, a pre-swim skill program to increase learning and skill retention, and we offer the lowest student-teacher ratio in Broward County! The risk of drowning is very real in our community. Already this year, four children have died. We are value-packed and we help to prevent the tragedy of childhood drowning.

So, the next time you are planning a trip to Disney or considering purchasing an expensive toy for your little boy or girl, think about the money it costs to save your child’s life here at USSA. Is it worth it? We think so and we know you will agree as well.

3 Water Safety Tips

*This article is taken from www.parenting.com.

Some experts suggest that you teach your child how to swim as soon as he can walk. So here are some tips for keeping him safe while he learns.

By Stephanie Eckelkamp

© Veer

The next time you take your little guy to the pediatrician, you just might come home with an unexpected prescription for swimming lessons. A new Water Smart Babies program is gaining traction in a few warm-weather states, which is great news considering that children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. We talked with Lana Whitehead, spokesperson for Water Smart Babies and an American Red Cross certified water-safety instructor, about ways to ensure your little swimmers are safe.

1. Start young. “Kids can begin swim classes as soon as they can walk,” says Whitehead. But getting them into water for pure enjoyment (with you holding on tight, of course) can be done as early as 6 months, which can be a great bonding experience.

2. Don't skimp on the safety measures. There are certain “layers” of protection you should implement to create a safe swimming environment for a child, says Whitehead. These layers include swimming lessons, putting up barriers (fencing, pool alarms, pool covers), becoming CPR-certified (for classes, visit redcross.org), and practicing “touch” supervision—always staying within arm's reach.

3. Get smart. Find a water-safety class for your child at usswimschools.org. He'll be taught to hold his breath underwater, flip onto his back to float, and swim to the edge of the pool or steps in case he falls in.

Consistency is Key!

As a team we can successfully help our children succeed and learn to swim! The key to successful swim lessons are consistency and repetition. Our children can achieve this with our help.

Our classes are carefully designed to help your child learn to swim. Patterns and repetition are used throughout the lessons. Each class builds on an already learned skill that was introduced in a previous lesson. Why do we use such patterns and repetition? Maria Montessori proved, more than 100 years ago, that children love to practice until they achieve a permanent kind of mastery. Children will not retain what they have learned if it is simply taught once; they need repetition and patterns.

As a parent, you have probably noticed that your child thrives on routine. Sometimes a holiday or trip will cause chaos because your child is out of his or her regular routine. If your child is school-aged, you know they have a certain routine they follow at school which might include snack times, work times and recess. Teachers know that children really crave this regular routine schedule. Knowing what to expect makes them feel comfortable and safe. This is the environment under which children learn best.

If your child misses a lesson and has to re-schedule for a different class time, then they may have a new instructor or a different group of classmates. This can make them uncomfortable and can disrupt their rhythm. We know there will be times when a child is sick or there is an emergency and you need to miss a class. Otherwise, we urge you to be aware of the importance of consistency and early arrival. We need your help with regular attendance and early arrival! Your child will progress so much more quickly. Children who miss lessons fall back multiple classes.

Thank you for being part of the solution to preventing drowning! If you haven't already, reserve your child's spot today! Learning to swim can save a life.

The Curve of Learning

Learning to swim requires a complex set of motor skills. For example, there is back floating for babies or freestyle swimming with a rolling breath for the older ones. These skills are difficult and may take time to master. Please do not expect your child to make equal and constant progress during every swimming lesson.

As we learn, we pass through three different stages of learning. In the first stage of learning, the child is wrapping his or her head around the concept and goal of the skill. You can see the child thinking about the individual steps of each skill. This is when the stroke or skill looks tense, awkward and choppy. In this stage, there is much progress and many gains in performance.
In the second stage of learning, the child is starting to sense errors and become more efficient at the stroke or skill. The overall skill will be smoother and more easily completed. The skill has not yet been perfected, but the overall gains in performance will be significantly less than in the beginning stage.

In the final stage, the skill is on its way to perfection. The swimmer will be able to effortlessly complete the skill. They are so good at this stage that they could do the skill in their sleep. Progress in this stage is very little because the corrections are minor.
With swimming, progress is not equal in each stage of learning because it’s not the way our brains and bodies work together. It takes time and much practice to learn something effectively. The swimmer's motivation, prior movements (aka exercise), and athletic abilities also contribute to how fast and well children learn to swim.

Ways to know your child is learning are by:

1. Seeing how well he or she knows the concept of the stroke or skill (i.e. what kind of kicks do we use?....STRAIGHT!)
2. Having the child be able to detect errors in the length that the child just swam (what did you forget?...put my face in before I leave the wall.)
3. Observing more control and coordination in body movements. The movement may not be correct yet, but they know how to move their body to complete the skill or stroke.
4. Watching the child's movement become more efficient once they start to learn the skill. They will also be able to complete more repetitions of each skill or stroke.

Please be patient, our lesson plans are developmentaly based and take early childhood learning patterns into account. Parents should try not to convey anxiety over skill delays. All of our students learn to swim. Some make rapid progress; some take longer!

Your enthusiasm for your child's efforts and willingness is vital in helping your child attain lifelong swimming skills!

Taking the Plunge

I had no idea what to expect going into my child’s first swimming lesson at USSA. For one thing, she hadn’t so much as dipped her toe in water for almost a year, since last summer. And her last experience with swimming lessons was practically traumatizing.

She had wanted absolutely no part in those lessons and why would it be any different now? So, I watched on nervously as my youngest, Ruby (4 1/2), began her private lesson with Coach Chrissy. I was surprised that I didn’t need to get in the water with her this time. Maybe they were going to assume she was farther along than she was. But, they had asked me about her current swimming skills before the lesson.

She had wanted absolutely no part in those lessons and why would it be any different now? So, I watched on nervously as my youngest, Ruby (4 1/2), began her private lesson with Coach Chrissy. I was surprised that I didn’t need to get in the water with her this time. Maybe they were going to assume she was farther along than she was. But, they had asked me about her current swimming skills before the lesson.

To my utter surprise, Ruby didn’t hesitate or complain at all as Coach Chrissy scooped her gently into the water of the pool. And then the games began. Ruby was told to “blow her bubbles” as she transferred colorful rings from the side of the pool to a platform in the water. And did she do it? Yes! Every time! My stubborn girl was following instructions beautifully. And she was doing it with a smile plastered on her face and giggles oozing out of her.

For the next round, little squid-shaped toys became food items and even I wanted to join in the fun. And for the finale, Coach Chrissy calmly plunged Ruby completely under the water and Ruby didn’t even bat an eyelash.

But, I should have known the crying was coming: when the lesson ended, that is. Ruby did NOT want to stop. She was having too much fun! And who could blame her? What had I been so worried about? With skilled coaches and fun toys and tactics, swimming lessons really don’t have to be all tears and screams. They can be gallons of fun!

Great Beginnings At United States Swim Academy

Once your child is enrolled in swimming lessons at United States Swim Academy, a great new adventure is about to begin. And while your child's swimming instructor will be in charge of teaching him to swim, there are some things you can do to help us better serve you. It is best to get started early, before your child's first lesson. Here are some tips we find helpful. Follow these and your child will learn quickly and will be much more comfortable at the pool.

1. Try to arrive relaxed and positive, especially if the experience of swimming lessons is new to your child. She will feel calm and secure and lessons will be more successful.


2. Have a dress rehearsal at home so your child gets used to swimwear and goggles.


3. Arrive early so you and your child can become acquainted with the surroundings and will not be flustered or rushed.


4. Toilet your child just prior to their lesson to avoid accidents and disruption during swimming lessons.


5. Goggles are a vital teaching aid at various stages of the learning process. They allow for good vision and comfort underwater. It is ideal for children to have their own goggles and arrive ready for class (nose piece and strap adjusted to their individual needs). Goggles can also be used for practice in-between swmming lessons.


6. The wearing of bathing caps is strongly recommended to keep hair out of the eyes and mouth and to allow goggles to slip on more easily. They also help enormously with filtration and therefore pool cleanliness.


7. For their own safety, it is essential that children do not enter the pool before or after their scheduled swimming lesson times.


8. Please stay back from the pool edge while swimming lessons are in progress. It’s great to encourage your child, but try to leave the teaching and discipline to the swimming teacher.
   Bring a suitable ‘hanky’ for wiping the inevitable runny nose. Please use the bins provided for disposal.


9. For safety reasons and respect for other patrons, ensure your child walks and doesn’t run in the academy.


10. Finally, be considerate of others. For example, if children are having a shower, make it brief so that other users are not inconvenienced.

Saving Lives: Drowning Prevention

Summer time is fast approaching and our little ones will be taking the plunge more than ever to find relief from that scorching Florida heat. What better time to remind parents of water safety tips?

Florida still ranks highest in drowning deaths for young children. And while the 465 deaths a year is down from past years, we need to remember that there are also those who survive, but with severe brain damage and other serious consequences. There are 556 people hospitalized each year in Florida for near-drowning. One third of these survivors are not so lucky. They will sustain moderate to severe brain damage from the experience. And near-drowning isn’t only devastating to the brain; it can affect every major organ system. More children are surviving drowning due to new methods used in the ER. However, many more children now sustain brain damage.

In order to prevent fatal and non-fatal drownings, we need to know what this event looks and sounds like. Many expect their child to scream out for help and to kick and thrash in the water if they are drowning. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There is no big, obvious warning that a child is in danger. Drowning is usually silent and happens very rapidly.

So, what is the good news? Drowning and near-drowning are completely preventable and parents are the ones who can make the biggest difference. Most drowning in Florida happen in pools (71%), ( most drowning happen when a parent is at home and in charge of the child’s supervision – seems baby sitter are smarter than parents!) when the child is left unattended for just a brief moment. So, let that phone ring. Leave the chores for later. Those few minutes you are out of view of your child can mean the difference between life and death. Drowning takes between two and three minutes and that may seem like a long time, but your quick task can easily turn into a three-minute distraction from your child. Supervision is key. It is recommended that you stay within touch distance of a preschooler in the pool at all times as well.

Other precautions you should take include putting a barrier or gate around your pool, keeping doors with access to the pool securely locked, and making sure you are trained in CPR. And last, but certainly not least, enroll your child in swimming lessons. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance states that they “believe in swimming instruction that includes water safety education.” Swimming lessons like this will teach children water confidence and invaluable skills from a very young age. Children will learn skills they will need to know if they ever fall into a pool. For example, they need to be able to get back to the wall of the pool and learn to roll over and float on their back and swim to the wall.

All of these lessons will be taught in swimming classes that include water safety education. Babies are drowning within reaching distance of the wall, but because they were not trained to turn around – they can’t find safety. For the past 10 years, every baby that drowned in Broward County in a pool drowned next to the wall! This is the reason babies need water safety lessons. When a child is confident about their water safety skills, they do not panic. Instead, they look for solutions. Just like adults, children are problem solvers. Water safety and swim lessons are the tools a child needs to survive. And learning safety skills takes time. You need to start before the summer if you want your child to be safer around the water. Armed with these skills, your child may be able to save her own life until you can reach them. Those few minutes that you look away doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Let a professional teach your child to swim while you make sure to watch him as he does. Together we can save lives.

New Contest!

Win free swimming lessons for a month at USSA!

How does the contest work?

1. Take a photo of your child kicking and splashing at our pool.
2. "Like" our Facebook page.
3. Post your photo to the wall of our page.
4. Ask Facebook friends and family to "like" your picture. (Friends must be members of Facebook in order to vote)

The more "likes" you get, the more votes you will receive to win!

When is it?

Feb. 1st - March 5th

Good luck and happy swimming! (one picture per child, please)

Swim Time is Bonding Time

Parents often sign their children up for swimming lessons with safety foremost on their minds. While safety is obviously a valid reason, there are countless other benefits to getting little ones in the water early on. These advantages start earlier than some might expect. Parents might think infant swimming lessons are just fun and games, but this time spent between parent and child is also a truly special bonding experience.

From the time a parent and infant first meet eyes, they are smitten. Let the bonding begin! This act of intensely attaching to one’s baby is not only a warm and fuzzy feeling. Studies have shown that early bonding between parent and child allows for better socialization later in life and fosters a sense of positive self image and security.

So, what is the best way for a parent to bond with their baby? Skin-to-skin contact. This is why cuddling and hugging their infant are some favorite pastimes of new parents. Add some water to this bonding time and you have infant swimming lessons!

When parents hold their baby in the warm water of the pool and gently bounce them in their arms as they sing and play games, there is obvious bonding taking place. Parent and child are physically connected and baby is learning invaluable water confidence skills at the same time. The warm water instantly relaxes both parent and child and this special time becomes a refreshing break from the day’s stresses. And parents can feel comfortable that their baby is safe with a qualified professional there to gently guide them.

So, give your little one a cuddle, a hug, and add a little water to this special bonding time. Infant swimming lessons provide more than safety. Swim time is bonding time.

About Us

We are the leader in water safety and swim lessons locally and known as experts nationally in safety and swim lessons. Our reputation for solid technique, expert instructors who enjoy children, fun lessons and predictable quality has produced over 60,000 swimmers since 1992 in Broward County.

United States Swim Academy uses a nationwide state of the art swim lessons model, SwimAmerica, a program designed by the experts in swimming, America’s Olympic Swim Coaches. Your child will progress, independent of classmates, at their pace through all the safety and swim levels.

Welcome!

Welcome to United States Swim Academy's brand-new blog! Make sure you sign up to be a follower and stay tuned for articles on everything from home swimming safety to birthday parties at the pool.