Swim ISR

Another New Location For ISR!

2011-01-20T15:04:00.001-06:00

ISR has a new location in Brentwood!

Maury Howard is now teaching at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex located at 920 Heritage Way (off of Concord Road, near the I-65 exit). We are very excited to partner with such a wonderful group of people who value our program and share the ISR mission “to see a day when not one more child drowns”.

There are 5 sessions scheduled at this location throughout 2011. Please visit www.infantswimbrentwood.com for specific schedule and contact information.

Witnessing something amazing!

2010-10-27T09:24:00.001-05:00

I have been teaching ISR for a while now. I have seen my son save himself when he was two years old, after he had finished his ISR lessons. I have been at the pool when one of my former students slipped off the steps and saved herself. No one saw her fall in. Then her dad noticed her floating calmly in the water. I have had emails and phone calls of former students saving themselves in pools and one who had fallen into a swift moving creek while fishing with his dad. As amazing as these stories are, I have never experienced what I witnessed yesterday afternoon.

It all starts with a pair of brothers who are currently enrolled in ISR lessons with me. The oldest brother is three and the youngest is 17-months-old. The youngest brother, Elliott, took three weeks of swimming instruction. In his fourth week of lessons, he began to learn the floating. He fought me quite a bit as I tried to teach him the float. He kept tugging at his right ear. So, his mom took him to his pediatrician and was told that he had a double ear infection and that the tube in his right ear was about to fall out. The pediatrician expressed that Elliott's present issues were not due to swimming. He has been battling ear infections since he was a baby. The doctor advised the mother that Elliott was in need of having surgery to remove his adenoids and tonsils and replace the tube in his ear. So, until he was healed from this, he recommended no more swimming. Elliott's mother and I decided to wait until summer or spring to resume lessons.

Elliot's brother continued with his lessons. He is in his fifth week of lessons now. As he completed his lesson yesterday, I laid him on his towels to rest on the pool deck. He dad was beside him and little Elliott was running around the pool in his long sleeve shirt, jeans, diaper, socks and tennis shoes. His dad kept telling him to stop running, but being only 17-months-old, Elliot doesn't understand danger quite yet. Suddenly, as Elliott was on the other side of the pool, he tripped and tumbled off the pool deck and into the water. My heart sank and everything was in slow motion. Elliott's dad yelled his name and ran towards him. Before he or I could get to Elliott, he had rolled onto his back and was floating calmly in the water. Elliott's dad pulled him to safety and then Elliott began to cry. He was okay!! My adrenalin was pumping and my hands were shaking. It scared me to death. However, I was so amazed at what this child was able to do. I had only worked with him in the float for three days and he never did float unassisted before he had to stop his lessons. This is the first time I have witnessed a child save himself when he had not completed the program.

I have always believed in this program, which is why I teach it. But now I am even more convicted that this program saves lives! It is simply amazing!!!!

ISR Featured in The Tennessean

2010-10-07T13:55:00.002-05:00

Copy and paste this link to see a great article on ISR Instructor Maury Howard of Brentwood, TN.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100914/WILLIAMSON01/9140309/-What-if-horror-prompts-mom-to-teach-infant-swimming

ISR On Channel 4!

2010-08-12T15:16:00.003-05:00

Recently, Brentwood ISR Instructor Maury Howard was featured on Channel 4 News in Nashville. Check it out!

http://www.wsmv.com/video/24455173/index.html

Great job Maury!

Another Child Found ALIVE!!!

2010-05-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from the Orlando Sentinel. Another child alive and well thanks to their ISR self-rescue swimming skills as well as the AAP's new stance on swimming. Copy and paste this link to read the article.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-swimming-lessons-toddlers-20100528,0,6707836.story

ISR on NBC's Today Show

2010-05-24T09:09:00.002-05:00

ISR was featured on NBC's Today Show this morning. Incase you missed it, watch the segment here:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New ISR Video

2010-05-14T08:43:00.001-05:00

Give your child the gift of a lifetime. Equip them with ISR self-rescue skills!

One Small Skill Can Make the Difference of a Lifetime

2010-04-28T21:45:00.000-05:00

ISR was all over the news in 2009. It was even featured on the Today Show. Unfortunately, children are still drowning daily. Drowning is a preventable tradegy. Please share this video with everyone you know who has a child. It is a montage of news clips about ISR from 2009. One small skill CAN make the difference of a lifetime.

Give your child the gift of a lifetime!

2010-03-21T21:27:00.002-05:00

Did you know??

2010-03-21T17:56:00.002-05:00

Did you know that when faced with an emergency situation, a person/baby will attempt the first action they learned when they were first in that enviornment? Ie: First learning to ride a bike with brakes on the pedals. Then, learning to ride a bike with brakes on the handlebars. When one goes to stop suddenly, he/she will first push the pedals back before attempting to grip the brakes on the handle bars. This is just one reason why you should introduce your baby to the water first with ISR. That way if he is ever faced with an emergency situation, he will attempt his lifesaving ISR skills before he tries any other actions. Just another reason why ISR says, "the sooner, the safer."

New Instructor Comes to Middle Tennessee!

2010-03-14T11:27:00.006-05:00

We are very happy to announce and welcome a new instructor to the Middle Tennessee area. Maury Howard has been an instructor for Infant Swimming Resource for four years. She comes to us from Columbus, Mississippi and has recently moved to the Williamson County area. Maury is married to her husband, Richard, and is the mother of three wonderful little boys. She is teaching at the Maryland Farms YMCA. Here are a few of her students:

Go to the Maryland Farms Website for more information or you can contact Maury at: m.howard@infantswim.com. We are super excited about Maury and she is a great addition to our team!

ISR is Worldwide!

2010-03-11T09:37:00.004-06:00

We are currently attending the national Infant Swimming Resource Recertification Conference in Orlando, Florida. It is truly wonderful to meet our fellow instructors who are so dedicated about the mission of ISR, preventing childhood drowning. We have met several instructors from other countries and would like to share these beautiful videos from the instructors in Puerto Rico and Argentina. We hope you enjoy them!

Can your baby really do this?

2010-03-05T15:04:00.005-06:00

Swimming at 24 months old! from Kelly Swindell on Vimeo.

Amazing isn't it? The child in the video is only 24 months old. I often get questions from parents if there has ever been a child that could not perform these skills. In my experience, I have yet to have a child who could not perform the self-rescue skills upon completing the ISR program. If parents adhere to the protocols of the program and listen to the advice of the instructor the child will be successful. Every child is different and lessons are customized to the child as an individual. Some children learn quickly and some will require a slower pace, but they all learn the skills. Because this program is science based, it works. There is scientific theory behind every technique. We want your child to be successful and confident in the water. Nothing is more important than your child's safety thus the purpose for our medically sound program. It takes both the instructor and the parents to set a child up for success. Encouragement, patience, and following the guidelines set by ISR and your instructor will allow your child to have a strong foundation for a positive and successful ISR experience.

WALL TILES SOLD OUT!

2010-01-09T14:10:00.003-06:00

Due to an overwhelming response, all of the wall tiles have sold out. If you are still interested in purchasing them, we are hoping to have more available by March. I will keep you updated and repost as they become available. Thanks :)

Getting Some Exercise

2010-01-07T09:35:00.005-06:00

Got a local fitness center in your area? Check to see if they have a warm indoor pool. Swimming is wonderful exercise for these cold winter days when you can't get the kids outside. If you have a local facility and you are not a member, check to see if they have daily rates. Some places will charge only a small fee for daily facility use. Getting the kids to the pool is not only a great way to get exercise, but it also strengthens their current skills and it gets them out of the house. Don't forget, never leave your children unsupervised around the water no matter what their skill level. Happy swimming!

Wall Tiles Available For Pool Safety

2010-01-02T09:48:00.006-06:00

SOLD OUT!!!!!! Due to an overwhelming response, we have sold out of these wall tiles and will possibly have them available in March.

CLOSEUP

ISR has a limited supply of the pool tiles pictured above. The tiles are 6"x6" porcelain. They are available in black and in white. They are being sold in pairs. A maximum of two pairs maybe purchased as we have a very limited supply. These tiles are a great tool for pool safety. If your child were to fall in the pool and could not reach the side, they could hold onto the tiles until help arrived. The tiles are available in contrasting colors so they can be spotted easily.

The price is $35 a pair, shipping is included.

We suggest purchasing two pairs, one pair in black and one pair in white to alternate between the black and white colors for best visibility as pictured above.

These tiles can be attached to an in-ground concrete pool using a product found at Home Depot called Aquamend. It's about $5 and it works great! It can be applied underwater.

If you would like these tiles for your pool, contact your local ISR instructor. You may find your local instructor at www.infantswim.com.

Gift Certificates Available!

2009-12-06T14:40:00.001-06:00

Gift Certificates are now available for ISR lessons! Contact your local instructor to find out details. To find your local instructor, go to http://www.infantswim.com/

Holiday and Winter Water Safety Tips

2009-12-06T14:37:00.001-06:00

Holiday and Winter Water Safety Tips

1. CEO Supervision (Constant Eyes On) - Never turn your back on your child around water. It takes just seconds for him/her to be in serious trouble. Segment the supervision responsibilities so there are never questions about which adult is responsible for watching the child and be aware of the distractions unique to the winter months: holiday parties, house guests, etc.

2. Educate Others - When traveling to relatives’ and friends’ homes they may not understand the importance of keeping gates closed, doors locked, closing toilet seats, emptying buckets, etc. Visiting family, holiday parties and celebrations can lead to breakdowns in routine supervision and effective barriers to the water.

3. Decoration Hazards - Decorations and lights can pose problems with young children around the house and water. Watch for lights and electrical cords around water, make sure no outside decorations provide a means for a child to climb over a fence or open a locked gate.

4. Maintain Pools in the Winter - Keep pools well-maintained with clear water even if it is too cold to swim. If someone falls in, they can be seen and be helped faster. Pool covers need to be drained of accumulated rain water and free of debris.

5. Hot Tubs - Supervision must be one adult per child due to the high temperatures and turbulence of the water in a hot tub. When young children are in the hot tub, keep the temperature below 90 degrees Fahrenheit and limit exposure to less than ten minutes.

6. Bath Tubs - Do not allow anyone who is uneducated about bath tub safety to bathe your child. Consider bathing an infant or young child in a tub with a handheld shower attachment, eliminating the risk of drowning in accumulating bath tub water.

7. Self-rescue Skills – Teach young children self-rescue skills. In addition to pool fences, alarms and gates, it can be another layer of defense. Survival swimming and a demonstration of the roll-back-to-float skills prior to all water recreation is vital year round.

For a full Family Aquatic Safety Checklist from Infant Swimming Resource visit:
http://www.infantswim.com/safety/index.html

For last minute ISR Gift Ideas for your little swimmers, visit the ISR Seal Store. A portion of all purchases go toward ISR's Community of Caring Scholarship Fund - www.isrsealstore.com

ISR on Hobnonbwilson.com!

2009-11-16T14:35:00.002-06:00

Check out this great ISR video by www.hobnobwilson.com! To get the latest news and happenings in Wilson County, visit www.hobnobwilson.com.

The Sooner the Safer

2009-10-31T10:02:00.003-05:00

Remember this baby?? My son was 8 months old when he was skilled to rollback and float unassisted.

Yates Swimming at 8 months from Kelly Swindell on Vimeo.

Here he is at 20 months old learning the swim-float-swim sequence.

Yates at 20 months learning the swim-float-swim sequence. from Kelly Swindell on Vimeo.

I believe the earlier you start your baby learing ISR Self-Rescue swimming skills the better. It gives them confidence and the respect for the water. I would compare it to "programming" them to respond appropriatley to the stimulus of the water. This response becomes second nature. Vital tools they need to survive an aquatic accident.

Because accidents happen in an instant....

2009-10-23T22:05:00.003-05:00

ISR believes in constant supervision. Nothing can compare to your eyes constantly being on your child at all times. Here is my 18-month-old son playing in the pool on vacation. Though, we were watching him, you can see how easy it is for an accident to occur. Fortunately, he has been taught self-rescue swimming skills through the ISR program. Notice he is calm and does not panic when he slips on the steps. I am so happy my baby loves the water but happier that he has skills to survive!

Yates 18 mos old playing in the pool. from Kelly Swindell on Vimeo.

Beautiful Slideshow about ISR

2009-10-14T13:11:00.001-05:00

This presentation was put together by some ISR Instructors for the Annual Trevor “Birdie” Davis Water Safety Foundation Golf Tournament 2009. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Brad and Amy Davis decided to found the non-profit 501(c)(3) Trevor "Birdie" Davis Water Safety Foundation. For them, it seemed to be the only way to bring some-thing positive out of the worst day of their lives. The mission of the Foundation is to save children from accidental drowning by educating both children and adults about potential water hazards. The Foundation has raised over $60k, and has donated funds to help train ISR instructors in the Washington D.C. area.

Trevor “Birdie” Davis Water Safety Foundation Slide Show from Infant Swimming Resource on Vimeo.

CPSC Warns of In-Home Drowning Dangers With Bathtubs, Bath Seats, Buckets

2009-10-13T09:00:00.004-05:00

Check out this story on household drowning dangers:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpsc-warns-of-in-home-drowning-dangers-with-bathtubs-bath-seats-buckets-63680342.html

ISR Featured in "The Tennessean."

2009-07-07T13:34:00.002-05:00

We are very excited that ISR was featured in Nashville's newspaper, The Tennessean today. Check out the story here:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090707/FEATURES01/907070312/1004/FEATURES/Toddler+swim+classes+help+prevent+tragedy

ISR featured on Good Morning America

2009-07-01T14:36:00.003-05:00

ISR was featured today on Good Morning America, as well as tips to keep your child safe around water. Check it out!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7975858

"Luck is not a Strategy."

2009-06-22T16:03:00.002-05:00

Watch Harvey Barnett, PhD, (founder of the ISR program) discuss the best ways to prevent childhood drowning. He explains the science behind survival swimming and provides valuable statistics. Can you believe 88% of childhood drownings are supervised?!? Find out more in this short and informational segment.

Wonderful News

2009-06-18T21:06:00.005-05:00

Today, I received an email from the mother of a former ISR student. His name is Evan and is 26 months old. Hearing things like this is what ISR is all about. Nothing can take the place of adult supervision, but accidents can happen in an instant. As a mother and an ISR instructor, I believe in the effectiveness of this program. Here is some of the email written by the little boy's mother:

"...was a success! Just wanted to let you know...this evening my mother-in-law and I were playing ball with Evan around the pool. He was fully clothed. The ball went into the pool on the other side of where the two of us were standing....... He was bending over and couldn't get the ball. He wanted my help and I was just about to go to him when he fell head first into the pool (deep end).

.....HE DID IT...turned over and floated right to the top on his back. He whined some and I held my hand out and said, Evan get mommy's hand (I wanted him to flip over), he wouldn't, so I went ahead and pulled him out. No trauma what so ever...his next words were..."play basket ball, mommie"?

I could care less if he doesn't swim the rest of the summer...what just happened is why I invested the time and money into ISR....well worth it!"

ISR featured on Foxnews.com/health:

2009-06-04T13:10:00.007-05:00

Check it out!!

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=5676530&referralPlaylistId=playlist

ISR in the news again!

2009-05-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27th, ISR will be featured on CNN and FOX.com.CNN's Headline News- 7:13 a.m. ET- 12:20 p.m. ET- 3:35 p.m. ETFOXNewsHealth.com- 5:00 p.m. ET (Because of the news cycle we could be bumped to earlier or later times) Don't miss it!

ISR Is the Final Layer of Protection

2009-05-20T21:27:00.007-05:00

Every year, stories of the tragic accidental deaths of infants and children by drowning flood our newspapers and TV news stations. We cannot ignore the startling statistics, the heart wrenching stories of tragedy, and the impact that the loss of these children has on our community. We are all aware of the dangers that swimming pools and other aquatic environments pose. Drowning is the one of the leading causes of accidental death for children ages 4 and under. But these are preventable tragedies and the solution is now available in our community. When supervision lapses, ISR is the final layer of protection to keep you child safe in and around the water.

ISR 100% Safety Record

2009-05-02T20:59:00.004-05:00

Infant Swimming Resource is the safest provider of self-rescue swimming lessons for babies and toddlers. Unlike other swimming lessons, ISR is the only medically-sound and behaviorally based approach to swimming lessons, using techniques that are safe and developmentally appropriate for young children. ISR’s nationwide network of certified instructors teaches young children how to safely play in and around the water using self-rescue skills in tandem with basic swimming skills to give them the competence required to save their own lives in a drowning scenario.

ISR has trained more than 175,000 children, delivered seven million lessons with no injuries, and received recognition from the medical community as the safest and only swim instruction program that is proven to save lives.

Check out ISR's informative Parent DVD below, or watch it at: http://vimeo.com/channels/38015

Pieces of the Puzzle

2009-04-20T15:56:00.006-05:00

This is a video of Riley performing her ISR skills. She recently celebrated her third birthday. She is in her final week of ISR lessons. This program focus on developing individual skills and incrementally builds on those skills. It is similar to creating pieces of a puzzle. Then, as the student successfully develops and perfects her skills, we begin to put the pieces together. Soon, we have a child who can actually save themself. No other program can compare to the safety and science behind ISR.

Customized and Confident

2009-03-17T15:33:00.009-05:00

ISR lessons are customized and individual to every child who enters the program. All instructors practice the same techniques and methods which are backed by over 40 years of scientific theory and research. However, ISR instructors are also trained to customize the lessons according to a child's motor skills, disposition and many other various factors. We consider what pace your child needs for the lesson to be effective. Your ISR instructor will work with your child's initial skills to help him or her gain both competence and confidence around the water. ISR has a deep passion for water safety and will not make your child over-confident or fearless, but will educate your child and teach them a healthy respect for the water.
Check out Cayden in the video below. He is 17 months old and is in his final week of lessons.

When is the best time to enroll your child in ISR?

2009-02-27T17:28:00.006-06:00

Photo copyright 2009, ISR Instructors Middle Tennessee

Many parents wonder when the best time is to enroll their child into the ISR program. Since drowning is not seasonal, we feel anytime is the best time. However, some parents tend to wait until the swimming season is in full swing before making the decision to enroll their child. We would like to encourage parents to enroll their children and get them skilled before the swim season begins. This eliminates or keeps interferences to a minimum. Interferences can be anything that hinders, lengthens, or interrupts your child's learning process of the self-rescue skills during lessons. A few interferences may be too much "free time" spent in the pool outside of lessons or even being absent from lessons due to vacations. Consistency is important to learning these skills. Bringing your child every day will increase the rate of progress and retention of learned skills. Once the students attain the survival skills, we show parents how to play with their kids in the pool to keep their child's skill level at peek performance.

Refresher Lessons

2009-02-12T09:47:00.003-06:00

Photo copyright, ISR 2009. All rights reserved.

Children grow and develop rapidly from infants to toddlers and young children. This development process represents improved strength, coordination, and a more finely tuned cognitive ability. In accordance with this growth, children enrolled in ISR return periodically to participate in Refresher Lessons. These lessons are designed to fine tune your child’s existing self-rescue skills to meet the demands of their growing bodies. We encourage parents to enroll their children in refresher lessons at least once every six months upon completing the ISR program. Contact your local instructor for more information.

Photo copyright, ISR 2009. All rights reserved.

ISR in the News!

2009-01-28T15:11:00.001-06:00

Michigan - Jan. 23, 2009 - WZZM13's Take Five program reports on how Infant Swimming Resource is helping to save lives in Michigan. The state of Michigan spends $104 million on near drownings per year on children under the age of 5. One parent, Michael Petrella, found the closest infant water safety classes were held in Ohio. Therefore he decided to become certified himself with ISR. Now he's helping teach young children in his community ISR self-rescue aquatic survival skills that could potentially save their lives. Scroll down to see the news footage.

Swimming in Clothing

2008-11-19T10:13:00.007-06:00

This video is a three-year-old student who is about to graduate from the ISR program. She is in her sixth week. She is completing a skills test in winter clothing. Posture is very important to us. We teach our students to swim in a horizontal posture with eyes open and face in the water. This makes it easier for them to rollback into the correct floating position. It is a great prerequisite for learning stroke as well, because they have learned the correct swimming postures. Swimming in clothing is difficult because the saturated clothing is heavy and the currents feel different to the student. We always swim the students in their clothes when they are fully skilled to insure that they have become aquatic problem solvers. Because swimming in clothing is difficult, the student may resort to some vertical posture. That is why we will swim the last couple of lessons in regular swim attire to perfect their posture. You would have never guessed that when this little girl first began lessons, she was completely vertical from wearing floaties, and she did not want to open her eyes or get her hair/head wet! She has done marvelous!

Gift Certificates!

2008-11-16T16:10:00.005-06:00

Gift Certificates are now available for ISR lessons! Contact your local instructor to find out details. To find your local instructor, go to http://www.infantswim.com/

Disposition

2008-11-12T11:45:00.005-06:00

Parents often have concerns about their children crying during the lessons. Each child is different and they all have unique dispositions. Some do cry and some don't. The baby above never cried in his lessons. As a matter of fact, he cried when he got out of the pool! He loved being in the water. However, for those that do cry, we would like to assure our parents that their child is not being harmed in any way. The crying usually occurs the first week or during the first few days of lessons. The crying takes place because the child is learning a new skill, in a new environment, and with a new person. Also, what is happening is not taking place on the child's terms. This could be compared to putting a child in a car seat for the first time. He might cry, but would that keep you from putting him in it? Usually, as the child builds trust with his instructor and begins to learn his new skills, he beams with self-confidence and the crying ceases. Parents play a big part in their child's success by being patient and supportive. Little ones are quite in-tune with the facial expressions on their parents faces. A smile and clapping can go a long way! We strive to make precious children aquatic problem solvers. Nothing is scarier than teaching a child to play in and love the water without supplying them the skills they need to be safe. We want our students to love the water, but more importantly we want them to be able to survive if they were to suddenly face a tragic situation.

How'd he do that??

2008-11-11T19:27:00.005-06:00

When babies are about to graduate the ISR program, we conduct a series of tests that simulates what a child would experience if he fell into a body of water. Never do we throw a child in the pool or expect them to perform a task if they are not skilled to do so. All children must pass these small skills tests before they can graduate the program. Once they have mastered the skills they are tested in their regular clothing and regular diaper if not potty trained. The beauty is, that the child is taught to respond to the stimulus of the water and its currents. All teaching methods are backed by scientific theory. It is so interesting and amazing! This video is an 8-month-old who has been in the program for four weeks. In the second video he takes a few seconds to rollback. Reason being, he is looking for and can see his instructor. When he sees that she is out of his proximity he handles his situation appropriately. If he were alone and fell into the water, he would instantly rollback because he would know that no one would be there to help him. Instructors are always watching and assessing the child. We have numerous safety protocols that we enforce to insure our students are taught in the safest most efficient manner.

No matter how many times I see it, it still amazes me!

Welcome!

2008-11-10T16:51:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Swim ISR! We are certified instructors who teach aquatic survival and self-rescue instruction to infants and children in the Middle Tennessee area. We have created this blog page to showcase our wonderful students and keep parents updated on the latest ISR news and happenings. For those of you who are not familiar with ISR please check out http://www.infantswim.com/. Infant Swimming Resource is an outstanding drowning prevention program developed by Dr. Harvey Barnett and has earned 100% safety record. Backed by over 40 years of research and development, the ISR program is safe and effective. We are passionate about this program and are eager to share it with our community!