The statistics are jarring. In the U.S., drownings are the number one cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 4, and Texas, sadly, leads the nation in child pool drownings. This serves as a reminder that any pool of water—be it a pool, a beachfront, bathtub or even an open-lid toilet—poses a danger to children who cannot yet swim or hold their breath. Though drownings are not exclusive to summertime, we’re upping our vigilance this season and recognizing the importance of teaching ourselves and our children not only how to swim but how to approach water safety more generally. Below are among the top useful resources for local families seeking out water safety classes in Dallas-Fort Worth, including local group lessons, online courses and infant swim classes.
Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition
Every summer, this nonprofit community coalition hosts affordable drowning prevention events for children as young as 4 years old. These are not swim lessons, per say, but water safety education courses that focus on teaching practical skills, dependent upon the particular ages and comfort level of the kids in attendance that day.
The in-water education is all about practicing floating, submersion, swimming from point A to B, and falling in before swimming back to the wall. Instructions continue out-of-water too, covering pool safety equipment and how to properly use lifejackets, perform CPR and otherwise respond to an emergency. Register here for the in-person Swim Safe classes at four locations in Fort Worth this summer.
Location: Marine Park Pool, McDonald YMCA, Ryan YMCA and Camp Carter YMCA in Fort Worth
Cost: $10 entrance fee per participant; free for accompanying parent or caregiver
Learn more: fwdpc.org/swim-safe; email swimsafefw@gmail.com with any questions
Cook Children’s Water Safety Club
Sign up for free to become a member of this hospital system’s drowning prevention program, which provides resources and educates parents and children on water safety and eliminating preventable deaths. That means learning how to introduce your children to the pool, how to act as a lifeguard for them, and which safety steps to consider before even entering the water.
To join, take the quiz online (it’s a short one) to test your knowledge of basic water safety facts, and sign up to receive an email about the program.
As a club member, you’ll be eligible for water safety classes for free or at a reduced cost, offered at more than a dozen swimming schools and private instructors in Burleson, Euless, Fort Worth and more cities south and west of Fort Worth. Go online to sign up and see which community partner is closest to you.
You’ll also receive a free U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, available at pick-up locations around Tarrant County, and be eligible for CPR instruction and gear such as bathtub kneelers and swim goggles for free or at a reduced cost.
Location: Multiple locations in Dallas-Fort Worth
Cost: Free to join; members receive free or reduced-cost resources
Learn more: watersafetyclub.org
Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)
Children 12 to 36 months are at the highest risk for drowning. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that swim lessons will benefit children who’ve turned 1 year old. Drowning is possible in as little as 1 or 2 inches of water such as in a bathtub or bucket.
That’s why certified instructors in the Infant Swimming Resource, established in 1966, argue that teaching basic survival skills to infants as young as 6 months old can save lives. ISR survival lessons for 6 to 12-month-olds focus on teaching them to roll onto their backs to float, keep their heads above water and breathe until help arrives. The method for 1 to 6-year-olds teaches the swim-float-swim survival sequence.
These classes are offered on a consistent schedule: Monday through Friday for approximately six weeks but for a maximum of only 10 minutes per day to prevent fatigue.
This method is not without controversy, so for answers to many frequently asked questions and to learn more about the ISR’s Self-Rescue program, first read through their parent resource book here.
Location: Multiple locations and certified instructors across Dallas-Fort Worth
Cost: Varies by instructor
Learn more: infantswim.com
American Red Cross
In keeping with its mission since 1881, the Red Cross also seeks to stop the disaster of drowning before it starts. To help minimize this risk, parents and caregivers can educate themselves by signing up for the Red Cross’ free online course “Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers,” available online any time at redcrosslearningcenter.org. This online course covers the basic concepts of drowning prevention, water competency and the chain of drowning survival and spells out which common situations where children are most at risk.
You can find more classes at redcross.org/take-a-class, including in-person training classes for Water Safety Instructors (for a fee). Or for those looking for training beyond the individual level, Red Cross offers additional training courses in CPR and lifeguarding for official Red Cross volunteers.
Other free, on-demand resources for kids include this coloring book for ages 4 to 7 and the Red Cross’ Whale Tales, a kid-friendly video series narrated by Longfellow the whale. He teaches easy-to-remember principles about being water smart, such as “swim as a pair near a lifeguard’s chair.”
Location: Online, or multiple locations in Dallas-Fort Worth
Cost: Free, or varies by class
Learn more: redcross.org/local/texas/north-texas/take-a-class
RELATED: The Alarming Truth About Child Drownings in North Texas
Top image: iStock
