Erika Briechle Arens

Judy,

This afternoon, Hayden and I were at East Boulder Rec Center while my older daughter, Ellie had swim practice. Hayden was excited to watch his friend going down the slide. I was a little nervous as Hayden tends to run and jump around when he’s excited (even though he’s been told repeatedly to walk when near the pool) so I was standing right next to him. I thought if I was there, I could prevent an accident. I couldn’t.

Hayden leaned over the pool and in an instant, lost his balance and fell in the pool by the slide. The water in that area moves pretty quickly, and for a second, I couldn’t see him as he slipped, fully clothed, under the water. I fought like hell to resist the instinct to jump in and pull him out, for I could not reach him from the edge…instead, I got to my knees and began screaming, “DO YOUR BACK FLOAT!”

He DID do his float…his little face emerged from the water, looking very scared. The lifeguard jumped in at that instant and grabbed him…but he was already on his back and breathing fine. In reality, my yelling to him did nothing. But, I had faith in him and in what he was taught and I wanted him to know that too. What worked was what he was taught and what he practiced in your program – over and over again – with heavy clothing and shoes and even his snow boots on.

When the lifeguard grabbed him I said, “He’s fine, he’s fine.” She responded, “I can see that!”

Nothing can replace a parent’s vigilance around the water but sometimes the unexpected happens anyway.

Every time I see those other kids’ swim programs and kids with those darned ‘floaties’ on their arms, I want to scream and tell them they are only giving their child a false sense of security around the water – which is perhaps even more dangerous – and to tell them about your program.

Your training works. I hope never to have to test it again, however!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.