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“Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4." - CDC

Unintentional death. Accidental. Preventable.

In most instances, drowning is preventable.

I love what I do because I make people’s lives better. I help prevent drowning.

For the 'Teaching a Healthy Respect for the Water' Mini-Course, I’ve been discussing 10 Basic Swimming and Water Safety Skills, which are introduced in my children’s book, Life with Lou. So far, we’ve looked at the following:

Swimming is a lifelong, lifesaving skill, so take it seriously. As you familiarize your children with new skills, don’t forget to go back and review what they have already learned. Repetition is important in the learning process. The more you practice, the easier and more natural it becomes, so you don’t have to consciously think about it. This is especially important with Skill #1 (Getting your face wet). Do not ‘protect’ your child’s face in the bathtub. It is just water. Be nice to it. Create a healthy relationship with it. Show your kids how to do the same.

My approach to swimming instruction includes a very balanced mixture of survival, technique, endurance, efficiency and fun. We always have fun. Every lesson is customized depending on the individual and the situation at that moment. Maria wants to be able to jump in the deep end and save her daughter if she falls in the pool. Sandy just became a grandmother and wants to refresh her skills to create a safer aquatic environment for her grandson. They are learning because they are aware that a healthy relationship with the water can save lives. They know that drowning is preventable.