Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ISR technique?
The ISR technique is a unique method of teaching children 6 months to 6 years of age survival swimming skills that they can use to survive an aquatic accident.

What skills will a child learn in ISR swim lessons?
Children 12 months and under learn how to rotate from a face-down position in the water to a back float. A baby will be taught to rest and breathe on his back until help arrives. A child who is twelve months or older will learn a swim-float-swim sequence. He will be taught to swim face down using arms and legs, roll on his back to float, rest and breathe when he needs air, and then flip over onto his stomach to continue swimming until he reaches a point of safety. This swim-float-swim sequence can be repeated as many times as is necessary to reach safety.  Students are taught to use these skills to swim to a wall, the steps or, if unable to reach a point of safety, to utilize a back float while resting and breathing.

How many ISR lessons will my child need?
Progress in lessons is determined by your child's own unique learning style as all lessons are private.  Most students under 12 months complete learning a rollback to float in about 4-6 weeks of lessons.  Each lesson lasts a maximum of 10 minutes, five days per week.  Children 12 months and older learn a swim-float-swim technique and typically master the skills in 6 to 8 weeks.

How can a child learn anything in 10 minutes?
Although 10 minutes may seem like a very short lesson, remember that each lesson is private and your child is getting the undivided attention of the instructor.  This lesson though short is very intense.  Most group lesson are only 30-45 minutes in length with as many as 6 children in each class.  This equals only about 5-7 minutes of actual instruction time for each child. Before deciding that your child can't possibly learn in such a short lesson, come and observe one or more ISR lessons.
 
What if my child hasn't mastered the skills in the typical time frame?
Each child learns and masters skills at a different rate. The instructor is constantly assessing the child's progress, and in some cases a child will require more time to complete lessons.  This child will continue until he or she has successfully mastered the skills he or she is learning.    
 
Is ISR something new?  Who started it?
ISR began in 1968 when a young lifeguard in Florida named Harvey Barnett returned home from work to see an infant neighbor being put into a body bag -  a victim of drowning in a nearby drainage ditch.  This tragedy prompted Harvey, then just a college student, to teach every five-year-old in his neighborhood how to swim.  He continued to teach children while a student at the University of Florida and was observed by faculty members from the Department of Psychology.  Ultimately, Harvey changed his major to Psychology and continued to use this knowledge to expand and refine his technique, based on principles of operant conditioning, to include teaching even non-verbal children as young as 6 months.  In 1972, Harvey began training others to be instructors.

How many children have taken ISR lessons?
To date, over 175,000 students have learned to swim through ISR lessons. There are currently over 500 instructors teaching ISR throughout the United States and abroad.

Are ISR lessons safe for young children?
ISR  instructors have given over 7 million safe and effective lessons. The safety of each child is the highest priority of each ISR instructor. Prior to participation each child is registered via an online registration process and each child’s health and developmental history is evaluated by our professionals to ensure that he or she can safely participate in lessons . Each lesson is private so the instructor’s attention is focused completely on your child. The ongoing safety of each child is monitored throughout lessons by requiring each parent to keep a  daily diary of their child  in order to monitor their child’s Bowel, Urine, Diet, and Sleep (BUDS).  This is reviewed prior to each lesson. If the instructor feels any of these key health measurements are not as they should be, the child's lesson will not take place or in some cases the length and pace of a lesson is adjusted .  Many pediatricians who are educated about this program and its high safety standards are willing to refer their patients to this program.

What qualifications does an ISR instructor have?
The ISR instructor training program includes a minimum of 60 hours of supervised in-water training plus education and testing in subjects such as child psychology, physiology, and behavioral science. All instructors are required to maintain current CPR and First Aid certification. Training as an instructor is a serious undertaking as each ISR instructor is carefully screened through extensive interviews before qualifying to earn certification. In addition, all instructors must complete re-certification requirements annually to maintain their affiliation with the program.

How is ISR different from a class like Mommy and Me?
Unlike other programs, ISR combines safe swimming lessons with self-rescue skills that teach your baby to survive in the water. Once your child has mastered self-rescue skills, then they are ready to learn how to enjoy the water safely and comfortably.

What if my child cries during his or her lesson?
It is normal and common for a child to cry when he is learning to perform a new skill.  This is a new and challenging situation, and he would probably rather be playing than "working". Crying is a form of communication for many children as they grow.When introduced to a new person and a new experience, many children cry.  ISR Instructors are trained to recognize different types of cries, and even while crying, the child will be safely and gently guided through the learning process.Crying will not bother the instructor or interfere with your child learning.

If my child cries will he learn to hate or fear the water?
Do you remember when your child learned to walk? He probably fell down and bumped his head and cried numerous times yet it did not cause him to hate or avoid walking. Do you avoid taking your child to the doctor if he cries there? Of course not because you as the parent knows that it necessary for his own good.


What can I do to help if my child is crying?
Your child will be reassured by seeing your confidence and pride.  If you look worried , your child will reflect this feeling. Talk to your child about the lessons and let he/she knows how proud you are!

Is it OK to use floaties, rings or floatation swim suits for my child to play in the water until she is ready to learn to swim? How about a Life-jacket?
ISR discourages the use of floating devices, which give a false sense of security, and teach the child to remain upright when in the water.  The purpose of learning aquatic self rescue is for occasions when the fall into water is unexpected, in which case they will not be wearing a floating device.  If the child is accustomed to being in an upright position, as with floating devices, the child will not float, but sink to the bottom.  The exception of course is when boating, when a life jacket should always be worn.

Does taking ISR lessons guarantee that a child will be drown-proofed when finished?
Supervision is still the most important factor in preventing drowning.  The goal of lessons is for your child to have skills that he or she could use to survive in a potential drowning situation.

Have any children ever used these skills in a real emergency?
Yes, to date 788 of our students have used the skills that they learned through ISR to save themselves from drowning.

I'm not sure that I can afford swim lessons for my child.
Your child is unique, precious and irreplaceable.  No value can ever be placed on him or her.  Drowning is a leading cause of death for children and preventing it is vital to your child's health and well-being.  A child who cannot swim is at  greater risk for drowning.  Parents spend considerable amounts on other lessons and sports that will never teach a child any lifesaving skills.  By comparison, learning aquatic survival can protect your child from death or serious permanent injury.  It will also provide a lifetime of enjoyment for your child.  Financial Assistance is available to those who qualify through ISR's Community of Caring Scholarship Fund.