Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has for years discourage swim lessons for children age 4 and younger. But this morning, they have changed their stance.  According to their news release:

“New evidence shows that children ages 1 to 4 may be less likely to drown if they have had formal swimming instruction. … The new guidance recommends that parents should decide whether to enroll an individual child in swim lessons based on the child’s frequency of exposure to water, emotional development, physical abilities, and certain health concerns related to pool water infections and pool chemicals.”

You can read the entire news release by clicking here.

You can also watch a segment from the “Today” show that features different ways kids learn to swim and about the Infant Swimming Resource program that is available here in Oklahoma.  To watch the “Today” show May 24 clip, click  here.

As the Memorial Day long weekend approaches, now is the time to get your child familiar with the water and the ways to survive if he or she were to fall in.

And remember, nothing can replace a watchful and attentive parent or guardian. Don’t take your eyes off your children for a moment if there’s water nearby.  Be sure your pool has the proper fencing/barriers to prevent your child from getting to the water unattended.

For everything water safety, go the AAP website: http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafety.cfm.

Have a fun, but SAFE summer.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

I’ve written posts for Hiccups before on the importance of water safety, but in light of another recent drowning, I’d like to share my personal experience with a program my 3-year-old son is in.

Infant Swimming Resource is a program I found after a user on NewsOK.com posted a comment on a story about a baby drowning a couple of months ago.  Her comment was, “If the family only knew about ISR.”  That comment prompted me to look into this program. 

I went to their Web site, www.infantswim.com,  and watched the videos and read about parents’ experiences with the program.  I have to say, I was instantly impressed.  (Click below to see the video.)

These babies and toddlers weren’t just swimming, they were performing self-rescue skills.  I found an instructor in the Oklahoma City-area using the online locator and got him started in the lessons.

I’ve had my son in swimming lessons before, but have been very disappointed with the results.  He was only swimming with a floatie on or by using a noodle and these give children, and their parents,  a false sense of security.  Children don’t fall into pools with floaties on.  If they did, no child would drown.

What ISR does is look at all aspects of a child.  The program uses many fields of study in their approach – psychology, biology, physiology and anatomy.  And most children go through the program and are skilled in self-rescue swimming in only 4-6 weeks.

When my son started, he had never even been put underwater. He never floated on his own.  He was terrified of going underwater. Now he is in his last week in the program. He can swim underwater, turn to float to get his breath then continue swimming to the side of the pool.  Without the aid of any flotation device.  If you knew my son, you would know this is truly impressive.

The lessons are one-on-one with a highly trained instructor.  Because repetition is key, they are every weekday for the full 4-6 weeks. To prevent water fatigue, the lessons are only 10 minutes long. 

I urge every parent to check out this program.  I am truly impressed with what my son has learned and with the professionalism and knowledge of the instructors.  It’s a small price to pay and small amount of time to spend on preventing the senseless tragedy of losing a child to drowning.

-Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

In remembrance of Zoe, her parents have set up a special balloon release this Sunday to commemorate what would have been her second birthday,  March 29. It will take place at 2 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home & Memory Gardens, where she was laid to rest last October.

The ceremony is open to anyone who would like to show support on what will probably be a very hard day on this little girl’s family.  If you would like to attend, go to Resthaven, 500 SW 104 St.  Directions can be found online at www.resthavenokc.com or by calling 691-1661.

Zoe Montgomery, in an August 2008 family photo.

~Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

Friday night, my 2-year-old son, my mom and myself attended a hayride at the Orr Family Farm.  On the same ride as us was an 18-month-old girl and her mom.  My son and this little girl were picking out pumpkins in a pumpkin patch just five minutes before both our worlds were changed forever. We were witnesses to that little girl tragically losing her life immediately following that very ride.

This has been a near impossible thing to wrap my mind around.  It’s something that causes shock and disbelief one minute, and despair and sympathy the next.  It’s something I never thought I would have to see, and now is something I’ll see for the rest of my life.  I can’t begin to imagine what her parents are going through and my heart and prayers have been with them since. Their lives are changed in ways I can never imagine.

I took a very hard lesson that night.  Life really is so very fragile. The unthinkable can happen in a split second. Treat every moment with your children and family as a precious gift, because that is what it is. Give those you love an extra long hug and extra big smile next time you see them.  Tell them you love them, and love them unconditionally.

If you’d like to know more about Zoe Madeline Montgomery, please click here: NewsOK.com. And please keep her parents in your thoughts and prayers.

~Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com