Tuesday, May 25, 2010

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Messaging


In May of 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised its policy statement on Drowning Prevention based on new information and research. Among other sources, the new policy statement reflects; the World Health Organization's newer classification of drowning; drain-entrapment and hair entanglement injuries; dangers of inflatable and portable pools; and the possible benefit of swimming lessons for young children.

The AAP has now changed it's policy regarding the age at which children may start swimming lessons, based on research stating that swim lessons may actually provide reduction in drowning risk of children ages 1- to 4-years-old. That study, “Association Between Swimming Lessons and Childhood Drowning” published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, March, 2009, by Brenner et. al. was the first study to probe the relationship between drowning reduction and swimming skills. That study concluded that, “Participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in the 1- to 4-year-old children…”

The AAP encourages parent's to consider that starting water-survival skills training at an early age must be individualized, based on the child's frequency of exposure to water, emotional maturity, physical limitations and health concerns related to swimming pools.

For more than 40 years, Infant Swimming Resource has been teaching children from six months to six years aquatic Self-Rescue skills in addition to educating parents and communities about water safety and drowning prevention. Developed by Harvey Barnett, Ph.D., ISR instruction and techniques are based on research and development in the areas of psychology, physiology and the behavioral sciences.

All ISR lessons are taught by a highly trained, certified Instructor with a focus on safety, developmentally appropriate curriculum, health and student generated in-water data. Currently, ISR has a 100 percent safety record and has 790 documented cases of former students using ISR techniques to save their own life in a drowning situation.

ISR professionals believe that a community effort involving education of the public, parents, children, pediatricians and other community leaders is key to reducing the tragic and needless drowning statistics. In addition, we believe that parents should take a multilayered approach towards drowning prevention including pool barriers and effective parental supervision. Even if a child has completed lessons, parents must understand that no child is drown-proof and there is no replacement for active and effective parental supervision.



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