Parents, Can You Swim?

A life story from our Aquatics Director, Vicki

My sister, Sandy, has two children. When they were just old enough to walk, she took them to swim lessons. Although they enjoyed going to the pool for fun, they were not always happy to go to swim lessons. Her son, Jay, would cry often and did not like being on his back or jumping in, but Sandy knew how important is was to learn to swim. Eventually both children mastered those survival skills, jump in, roll over, and float (with and without clothes on). And, thank goodness she felt lessons were important.

One sunny spring afternoon, the family was invited to have lunch on a friend’s new boat. It was too cold yet for swimming in Lake Michigan, but a boat ride sounded like good, family fun. The kids and adults made their way down the long pier at the marina, talking, and excited to spend the afternoon on the lake. When they were about half way down the pier, Sandy turned around, but couldn’t see Jay. He had been there just a second ago. With panic in her heart, she looked over the edge into the water. There was Jay, just 3 years old, fully clothed floating on his back in the deep, rough, and icy cold Lake Michigan water. The pier was too far up to reach him, so she had to do the only thing she could jump in to get him. It was a brutally cold long swim for her, towing Jay to shore but they both reached land safely. How different the end of this story would be if Jay had not learned his survival skills, or if none of the adults were able to swim.

My parents ensured that we all know how to swim. I learned to love it. My sister, although able to swim, does not care for it all that much and only swims occasionally. She is now very thankful for our parent’s insistence that we learn to swim and thankful she made sure her children would be safer in the water as well.

If your child fell into a deeper pool, a river, a lake, could you safely enter the water and assist them? Are you able to float, tread, and swim in deep water? What if it was you who fell into that lake? Would you survive? You never know what circumstances may occur in your future. Learning survival and swimming skills is never a waste of time. The benefits always out way the costs as good swim lessons reduce the chance of drowning by 88%. Learn to swim and make sure your children learn as well.

To enroll in our premier water survival and swimming lessons call British Swim School East Valley today at (480) 725-9292 to find the right class for you or your child, or enroll online. Classes are available to those located in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Ahwatukee, Tempe, Santan Valley and Queen Creek.