Why Swimming is More than a Sport - It is a Life Skill

We all have choices when it comes to our children’s extra-curricular activities…Basketball, soccer, tee-ball, ballet, piano lessons, art class…. Do you put swim lessons in this category? It’s the season for endless extracurricular activities and as parents we are busier than ever with what seems like no extra free time. Before you put swim lessons on the back burner, pause for a moment to reflect on the overall goal of swim lessons:To save your child’s life.

Formal swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. Year-round swim lessons give children every skill they need to remain safe in and around the water as well as the instinctual knowledge of how to react in an emergency situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88 percent.” The American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons for children as young as age 1.

Swimming is a necessary life skill

There are other important facts to consider. For each drowning victim in the USA, it has been estimated that five children go to the hospital for non-fatal drowning submersion events. The incidence of non-fatal drowning may be underestimated, as some children may be seen in primary care offices and urgent care facilities, and there is no systematic reporting mechanism for non-fatal drowning as there is for fatal drowning. The impacts of a non-fatal drowning event can be staggering. Many of these individuals never fully recover and need some type of care for the rest of their lives. Victims may only live a few months or years after a non-fatal event and may have very little quality of life. Many families who have children that suffered a severe non-fatal drowning event have one “date of death” where their child left his or her normal life and then another “date of death” when the child actually passes away.

While sports, music lessons and dance certainly contribute to a well-rounded individual, swim lessons are one of the only activities that can be classified as a necessary life skill, similar to reading, writing, learning to cross the street and tying shoes. Swim lessons should be in the same category as bicycle helmets, car seats, and safe sleep practices. Knowing how to swim safely and properly is necessary for a lifetime of water safety and enjoyment. Other activities simply can’t compare.

Swimming is excellent cardiovascular exercise

Beyond safety, swimming offers many other benefits. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout that promotes heart and lung health, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture. Swimming is a full body workout. In addition, swimming is a way to prevent childhood obesity, which has been linked to juvenile diabetes, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swimming laps burn approximately 400 calories per hour (more if you’re really working hard). It is one of the best exercises to keep weight off of joints because it is low impact.

Swimming is a foundational base for several other opportunities and activities

Once childhood lessons are complete, there are several activities that a proficient swimmer can enjoy. Snorkeling, scuba diving, water polo, and lifeguard training are just a few. These skills can lead to exciting opportunities in life and also in the professional world. Consider taking a lifesaving class or learning CPR… you could help save a life!

I fell into my career as an Aquatics Professional by accident. I was working in hospitality management and took a part-time job teaching swim lessons at my local YMCA (truth be told, I wanted the free gym membership). I was a shoo-in for the position because I was a previous competitive swimmer and had previous lifeguarding experience. Once I realized how much I loved making an impact on these young children and watching them succeed I rapidly advanced to “Assistant Aquatics Director” and then a year later to “Aquatics Director.” At the height of my YMCA career I supervised multiple departments but never lost my connection with aquatics. I currently train hundreds of individuals in lifeguard training, CPR/AED and First Aid annually. I definitely “drank the kool-aid” as my YMCA folks say. One of the most rewarding parts of being an Aquatic Professional is watching the children that I have taught grow into proficient swimmers. Some have come back to work for me as lifeguards and swim instructors. I have supervised several lifeguards that have gone on to pursue careers in health care such as nursing, Firefighters, and EMTs.

Heidi Blair’s bio:

Swim Instructor in St. Petersburg, FL

Heidi Blair is an Aquatics Professional that has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector as an operator with the YMCA. She is a lifeguard instructor for The American Red Cross, Jeff Ellis and Associates, and the YMCA of the USA. She is a swim lesson trainer for the YMCA of the USA and has taught thousands of children to swim in the St. Petersburg area. She has lead her association in several initiatives sponsored by Florida Blue, The Tampa Bay Rays Foundation, and the Juvenile Welfare Board all related to drowning prevention and Safety Around Water. Heidi is an active member of the Association of Aquatics Professionals. She graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Anthropology. When she's not working you can find her enjoying our local beaches, kayaking, reading, and listening to Jimmy Buffett cover bands.