Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Saves Lives

According to the CDC, accidental drowning is the No. 1 cause of death in children ages 1-4, after birth defects. No parent can imagine the horror of losing a child, but measures toward prevention are available and are of absolute necessity.

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) provides life-saving swim and self-rescue skills for children six months - 6 years old. ISR’s unique results are achieved through fully customized, safe and effective, one-on-one lessons with only the child and instructor in the water during a lesson. The skills training is completely different from traditional swimming lessons in that children learn to react effectively if they find themselves in the water alone. ISR prioritizes safety first, and emphasizes competence, leading to confidence, and provides a foundation for a lifetime of safe enjoyment in and around the water.

A local team of ISR Certified Instructors serves Tulsa and the surrounding areas with a passion for increased protection for children with water safety. Certified Instructor, Brandy Flewellen, provides training in Broken Arrow, and as a mother of a toddler, values the skills training as the highest priority for responsible parenting. “As the mother of a very active 2-year-old, who has been through ISR Swim Lessons, I realize how brave he is and can find trouble,” she said. “Water safety is not just a summer issue, with access to pools and lakes. Kids will find water anywhere in the home and can drown in 30 seconds.” Drowning can occur in bathtubs, toilets, and even a bucket of water. A child can drown in less than 2 inches of water. ISR skills training has been proven 100% effective as a life-saving measure for children against accidental drowning. “I have seen children who received traditional swim lessons for years and still cannot swim to save their lives,” said Brandy. “There is just no comparison to the value of ISR Swim Training.” The local ISR Certified Instructors include: Brandy Flewellen, Alison Cone, JoAnna Gilkey, and Jessie Deherrera.

The cost of ISR Skills Training is comparable to traditional lessons, Brandy believes there is no price you can put on the life-saving measures given to a child. “This could save your child’s life,” said Brandy. “It is every parent’s responsibility to make the sacrifices necessary to ensure the safety of their child.” Scholarship opportunities are available for anyone that might qualify.

Brandy’s passion for supporting life-saving water skills to all children is expanded to include a mission to provide training to as many African American children as possible. According to the CDC, the fatal unintentional drowning rate for African Americans was significantly higher than that of other ethnicities across all ages. As a mother of an African American child, it weighs heavy on Brandy’s heart, and she has made it her mission to make a positive impact in this community.

Amy Mutispaugh has made it her life’s work to advocate for ISR. In September of last year, her 4-year-old son, Evan, was lost in a drowning accident at a swim party. There were multiple adults present, and the scene seemed safe and secure, and Amy never imagined that anything like this could ever affect her family. “I got comfortable and took for granted that something so bad could happen,” she said, “and I want that to be a warning for other parents.” In only a matter of minutes, Evan slipped out of sight of Amy or anyone else and was succumbed after submerging in the water of the hot tub. Amy’s advice for others comes from a place of wisdom and regret. “Children need to learn to self-rescue. Floaties and puddle jumpers give some peace of mind, but I submit they should not.” Amy said. “Eyes on supervision is always the most important safety measure, but never take for granted that your kids are always safe because they can easily find trouble. As parents, there can always be that second that you can’t get back.”

For more information and to schedule ISR Training for your child, call Brandy at (918) 402-8801. More information on ISR can be found on their website at www.infantswim.com.

Amy Mutispaugh, lost her 4 -year-old son last year in an accidental drowning. She now advocates for ISR as the most effective measure to protect other children from drowning.