Did you know a child can drown in as little as 21 seconds? Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States. It is often silent and can happen before anyone realizes a child is in trouble.

 

Every second matters, and every layer of protection matters. That is why water safety involves a number of factors: constant, undistracted adult supervision; adults who know CPR; never relying on floaties or puddle jumpers to keep children safe; secure pool barriers and locked gates; dressing children in brightly colored swimsuits; and survival swimming skills for children.

 

Spa City ISR in Hot Springs teaches infant survival swimming beginning as young as 6 months old, as well as swim-float-swim lessons for toddlers and young children, refresher and maintenance lessons, and adult swim lessons, because it is never too late to learn.

 

 

Owner Mittie Owens became certified in 2021 through Infant Swimming Resource, which started in 1966. It was a personal journey that began with her son, Adam, now 7.

 

“I was looking for lessons for my own child,” she said. “I had him with an instructor that wasn’t ISR certified, and she told me if he didn’t stop crying, it may not be a good fit. At that moment, I knew I wanted something different. I didn’t care about his happiness in the water. I just knew I wanted him safe.” 

 

Children cry for many reasons, including being tired, being challenged, being asked to do something new, separation from a parent or simply adjusting to being in a structured learning environment, she said. Crying does not mean a child is in distress or experiencing trauma.

 

 

ISR lessons teach a life-saving skill in a very controlled, calm and consistent way, always within what the child is developmentally ready to handle, Owens said.

 

“What parents don’t always see is that behind those brief moments of frustration is a process of building confidence, muscle memory and self-rescue skills that can one day save their life,” she added. “The lessons are short, intentional and customized to the child — never about pushing past safety, always about building it.”

 

The ultimate goal is to make sure that if a child ever reaches the water alone, he or she will have the skills and confidence to survive. 

 

“Water is everywhere: pools, bathtubs, lakes, beaches and even buckets,” Owens said. “Children don’t always understand how quickly or silently danger can happen around water. When a child has swimming and self-rescue skills, they have a chance to react instead of panic.”

 

Starting as early as 6 months helps children become accustomed to the water, building comfort and familiarity before fear and hesitation develop, she said. Infants and toddlers are taught in short, consistent sessions — usually just a few minutes at a time — with a trained instructor. The lessons are individualized to allow each child to progress at his or her own pace based on age, development and comfort level.

 

 

The first step is to build familiarity and routine in the water. As children progress, they are gently introduced to core survival skills such as floating on their backs, maintaining breathing and turning to a safe position if they end up in the water alone. As children become older and more capable, the skills are connected to a sequence: enter the water, rotate first, rest and breathe, and stay calm until help arrives. 

 

An instructor is always closely controlling the environment, from the water depth and temperature to timing and safety, so children are never unsupported or overwhelmed. Parents are usually present and observe the entire process. 

 

“The key idea is repetition over time,” Owens said. “Infants don’t ‘learn once and are done,’ They build muscle memory through consistent exposure so that in an emergency, their body knows what to do, even if they are scared or surprised.”

 

 

Survival swimming skills are especially important given the fact that Arkansas has one of the highest rates of drowning in the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas records about 1.88 annual drowning deaths per 100,000 residents, exceeding the national average of 1.31 deaths per 100,000 people. 

 

For children, the statistics are even more dire. According to Arkansas Children’s, the state ranks seventh in the nation for pediatric drownings, and the pediatric drowning rate is about 60 percent higher than the national average. 

 

In Arkansas, Owens said, there are plenty of opportunities for children to encounter water but few formal swim programs, especially in rural areas. That is why layers of water safety matter so much, and where programs such as Infant Swimming Resource can make a real difference.

 

 

“They focus on giving children self-rescue skills in environments similar to what many Arkansas families actually have — real-world water, not just a pool setting,” she said. “The big difference isn’t that Arkansas is ‘more dangerous,’ but that water is more woven into everyday life here, which makes proactive water safety education even more critical.”

 

With an average of three children dying of unintentional drowning every day in the U.S., Owens said it is important for the state to take an active stance on legislation to promote water safety. For example, New York has a law requiring all hospitals and birthing centers to offer new parents the opportunity to view a state-approved water safety and drowning prevention video before taking newborns home, and Florida provides a voucher program so that low-income families can access free or reduced-cost swimming lessons.

 

To help families in need in Arkansas, Owens started the nonprofit Courageous Float Foundation for families who cannot afford lessons. 

 

“The biggest lesson parents can teach is that water should always be respected, never feared,” she said. “Pairing consistent water safety habits at home with quality swim instruction gives children the best chance of staying safe around water.” 

 

Andrea Lawson, general manager of Luxury Pool & Spa, a family-owned company with locations in Conway and Russellville, said teaching children to swim is an important aspect of pool safety.

 

“A swimming pool is meant for making fun memories with family and friends,” she said. “We love hearing stories from our clients about their pool bringing their family closer. We want to continue to hear happy stories like these, which requires that our clients and their guests know how to swim. Teaching children to swim builds confidence, gives children a great form of exercise and is a fundamental life skill.”

 

 

Here are a few things parents can do to keep children safe around the water, recommended by Spa City ISR:

• Talk about water often: Teach children never to go near water without an adult, whether a pool, lake, bathtub or even a bucket of water.
• Practice asking permission: Make it a family rule to always ask an adult before going near water.
• Learn together: Read books and watch age-appropriate water safety videos with children to reinforce the message in a fun way.
• Model safe behavior: Children learn by watching. Wear life jackets when appropriate, follow pool rules, and avoid risky behavior around water.
• Teach children what to do if they accidentally fall into water: If children are enrolled in survival swim lessons, practice and reinforce the skills they have learned — but always under supervision.
• Never rely on floaties or puddle jumpers as a substitute for supervision or swimming skills: They can give children a false sense of confidence. 
• Maintain constant, undistracted supervision: Designate a “water watcher” whenever children are in or near water — no phones, conversations or distractions.

 

This article is sponsored by Luxury Pool & Spa. With locations in Conway and Russellville, Luxury Pool & Spa has proudly served Arkansas since 1976. Luxury Pool & Spa offers pools, hot tubs and outdoor furniture, as well as service for both pools and hot tubs.

 

 

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