Stories of Success at SWIMkids USA!

Christopher

Last spring, 16-month-old Christopher Spelts fell into his cold jacuzzi. He immediately turned around and grabbed the edge, a skill he learned in his Parent-Tot swim class at SWIMkids USA. What could have been life-threatening turned into "a comforting moment for all of us," said his father, Steve. Many parents of SWIMkids USA students tell similar stories. Two of Laura Files’s children used the skills they learned in swim lessons. "My daughter Sydney’s skills came in handy when at age two years she rode her tricycle into the pool. She immediately grabbed the side and climbed out. This was such reinforcement to what we wanted. Another time, my son Kelsey at age three fell into the pool while he was sweeping. He also immediately knew what to do. He turned to his back and floated to the side and climbed out. I contribute my children’s success with handling these situations to the technique that SWIMkids USA provides."

Swimming lessons do save lives. A study in the March 2009 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine concluded that swimming lessons for children ages one to four lowers the risk of drowning. Steve and Laura would agree.

Max

When Max was 16-months old his 185 lb. Great Dane "Scooby", while trying to "protect" him due to Max's close proximity to the family spa, accidentally knocked him in. As taught by the SWIMkids method, Max immediately rolled to his back to "airplane". He felt for the wall and once having identified he was close enough, rolled face down, found the wall and "reached up" to "hold-on" as taught in his Parent Tot class. Mom and Dad were close by, but their belief in the SWIMkids method working, paid off to result in a successful self-rescue by Max.

Alli

Two-year-old Alli fell in to the pool; mom was close by and waited to see what would happen. Alli - as taught by the SWIMkids method, immediately rolled to her back in "airplane" to breathe and call for help. Mom was there to get her by the first cry.

Cameron

Cameron recently fell in to an above-ground pool. By the time he was found by his family, he was floating in "airplane", calm and relaxed; having been calling for help.

Zander

While visiting a neighbor, Zander decided to the pool while his mom was turned to get a towel. He tumbled in and went down about 3 feet, but immediately rolled to airplane and slowly floated back to the surface. His mom stood and watched the whole thing play out as she knew what would happen... probably to the horror and dismay of their friends standing by. But once they saw the successful outcome, were thoroughly impressed. Mom only let him float on the surface but for a brief moment - to let out a "I'm mad at you mom grunt". However, after she pulled him out, he never once cried - because he is so used to being submerged and rolling to airplane in his weekly lessons.