Survival swim lessons.
I haven’t always known they existed. But from the moment I did, I have always been an advocate for these lessons. ALWAYS. Even when my children were just twinkles in my eyes, I knew that I knew that I knew… one day these lessons would train them, empower them, rescue them.
According to the USA Swimming Foundation, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4 nationwide. Last summer, at least 163 children under the age of fifteen fatally drowned in swimming pools or spas. And the state with the highest number of drownings last year — Florida.
Those statistics hurt my heart.
The thought of a child drowning hurts my heart.
It’s terrifying.
It’s devastating.
And it’s exactly why I advocate for these lessons.
Children can begin as young as six months old. Ten minutes per lesson — four days a week — six to eight weeks. A commitment for you; hard work for them. But you do it, and they do it, and they may cry, and you may cry, but you keep at it because it is safeguarding our kids, IT IS SAVING OUR KIDS. Frankly, it’s remarkable. Tiny tots… underwater with complete breath control… finding their way to the surface… floating like buoys… on their backs… gathering air… rolling over… swimming… and repeating. A sequence that gives our babies a fighting chance.
And the instructors — HEROES. They are saving lives before lives must be saved. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
So if you have kids, plan to have kids, know people who have kids, love kids, tolerate kids… I kid you not, sign them up! Find a survival swim program near you.
Today I celebrate our third water warrior. Today I crusade for other little fishies. And today I prayerfully lift up those moms and dads who just want their children back.