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Swim lessons' purpose limited
By ANGELA MOORE
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- At just 14 months old, Graham Willoughby already loves the water. He screws up his nose and slaps the water, splashing his mom, Lauran, which makes him laugh. When he bends down to grab a toy and gets water in his mouth, he coughs, but keeps going. He's not afraid at all. Unfortunately, that could endanger him. In Florida, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, with 70 to 80 dying each year. In 1999, children in that age group accounted for nearly one-quarter of all drowning deaths in Florida, according to the state's Department of Health. That makes some parents turn to swimming lessons, hoping they'll protect kids like Graham -- old enough to be fascinated with, but not afraid of, the sparkling blue water of a backyard swimming pool. But pediatricians say that at 14 months old, Graham's chubby little arms and legs are not strong enough to support his body in the water for more than a few seconds, much less pull himself out of the pool. In a report released last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics rebuked swimming programs that promise to drown-proof toddlers. "Programs that claim to make children safe in water or safe from drowning are misrepresenting what is possible and are giving parents a false sense of security about their child's safety in water," the report said. The city of Tampa's recreation department makes no overarching claims, costs only $15 and is staffed by trained professionals like Loretta Pippin. Pippin runs the Roy Jenkins Pool on Davis Islands, a city pool built about 70 years ago. Every weekday afternoon this summer, Pippin and her staff of lifeguards teach 30-minute swim lessons to all ages -- adults, children and toddlers. "We don't guarantee drown-proofing children," Pippin said. "If you think about it, anyone can drown. . . . Safety is the biggest emphasis." Graham and Lauran Willoughby and three other parent-child teams instead concentrate on small victories, like learning to put their faces in the water, blow bubbles and jump off the side of the pool into their parents' arms. "What we instill in parents is to tell the children not to get in the water unless there's an adult in the water already," Pippin said. "And then the child has to wait until the adult gives them the cue to jump in." Tom Cassedy's 18-month-old daughter Carolina waits, giggling and clapping her hands, while he says, "One for the money." (He tickles her tummy. She giggles.) "Two for the show." (Tickle. Giggle.) "Three to get ready." (He backs further into the pool.) "Four to go!" Carolina's bottom slides off the poolside and she's in the water, but she doesn't have time to go underwater before her father's hands lift her up. "Our philosophy is not to submerge the children," Pippin said. "If they're ready and go under on their own, that's fine, but we wait until they're ready." The American Academy of Pediatrics said in its report that children aren't developmentally ready to learn how to swim until they're 4 or 5 years old. While Carolina learns to kick her legs, her 4-year-old sister is on the other side of the pool learning to move her arms and her legs together to keep her head above water. Summer has barely started, and so far this year in Hillsborough County, four children have died in backyard pools. All of them were 2 years old or younger. At least four others have been treated for close calls. All four parents in the Jenkins swimming class said they didn't have a pool at home, partly because of the dangers. "I like not having to worry," said Sarah Crass as her 2-year-old daughter, Caroline, splashed beside her. "It can happen so quickly. It's just heartbreaking every time you read about it."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
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