What is ISR?
Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) is an internationally recognized system
of aquatic survival instruction for infants and young children. The program focuses on educating parents and children about aquatic survival and safety issues.
ISR is the product of 50 years of research and development by Dr. Harvey Barnett. More than 260,000 infants and young children have gone through our program with more than 8,000,000 safe and effective lessons and saved more than 800 lives.
ISR is the most educational and effective survival swimming instruction program available.
Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) has been teaching children critical Self-Rescue skills — giving children the competence and confidence to safely enjoy the water. ISR’s technique teaches babies from 6 months to 6 years of age how to save themselves if they were to end up in the water alone.
What makes ISR instructors different?
ISR Instructors are the most highly trained and qualified instructors in any swimming program in the country and must undergo strict re-certification testing annually along with maintaining current CPR and First Aid certifications. Every ISR instructor undergoes 8 weeks of intense training. Hands on, in the pool with an ISR Master Instructor and students, learning the ISR method for a minimum of 60 hours. In addition, we receive academic training in anatomy, physiology, child psychology, behavior and development, sensorimotor learning, and how each relates to the aquatic environment.
ISR Lesson Overview
What your child will learn:
Children from 6 months to confidently walking usually (12-15 months) will learn how to hold their breath underwater, roll onto their back and float unassisted, giving them an opportunity to be rescued.
A child over 12 months and confidently walking will learn how to hold their breath underwater, swim with their eyes in the water and head down, roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe; then roll back over to resume swimming until they reach a safe place to get out of the water. This is called the ISR swim-float- swim sequence. All children will learn how to perform the skills in different types of clothes. Upon completion of the ISR program, your child will have the survival skills that will help them to be aquatic problem solvers.
Class Structure: Your child's classes are 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. Each class will be approximately 10 minutes long with just one child and their instructor in the water. Much is accomplished in a short but very intense private lesson. Your child will have the same 10 - minute time slot each day. You can expect your child to be skilled in an average of 6 weeks.
ISR Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child be drown proof after completing ISR lessons?
ISR nor any other program can “drown-proof” your child as there’s no such things drown proof! ISR is not a substitution for supervision however it does give your child the skills to have the best fighting chance in the event that all other barriers (fence, locks, supervision) fail them to be an aquatic problem solver and self-rescue should they find themselves alone in the water.
How many days a week are lessons?
Lessons are attended 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) for approximately 4-6 weeks. The consistency of daily lessons is critical for learning efficiency. These are NOT traditional swim lessons! We are teaching highly specialized skills and it is very important to attend class every day. If you cannot commit to this schedule, you might not want to register until you are sure you can.
What if my child cires?
What if my child cries?
Some children cry the first few lessons due to anxiety. They are at a new pool they’ve probably never been to before, being handed into the water to a stranger – it’s normal for them to be wary of the situation! It’s important for us to teach your child to trust their instructor and eventually to trust the water. Many kids can’t wait to come to lessons by the end of the first week!
Fear is a learned behavior. We didn’t come out of the womb afraid of spiders, large dogs or water! When someone has a negative experience that involves the fearful object or experience, fear is developed. Your child will only truly be fearful of the water if he or she has witnessed or experienced a traumatic aquatic event or someone close to them has and has tied that emotion to the experience for the child.
Can children with special needs be taught self rescue skills?
YES! ISR is individualized to meet each student where they are and instruction is one on one. On rare occasions, there are some student’s with certain disabilities that may not be a good match for ISR lessons. However, each student’s online registration is reviewed by a member of our Registration Evaluation Team (RET) of medical professionals. Students may only begin lessons when (or if) their registration is cleared to begin by our RET team. We believe in offering the SAFEST lesson possible for each and every student so that may require some additional safety protocols, a note from a pediatrician or an extended wait period before approval.
2024 ISR REGISTRATION & LESSON FEES
ALL ISR students must be cleared through the national ISR office PRIOR to starting their first in-water lesson. Registration forms must be filled out and paid ($105.00) for online. You will be asked specific questions regarding your child’s medical history to ensure your child’s safety during lessons. All registrations are kept strictly confidential. The registration fee goes to the national ISR office in Florida which supports a team of Doctors and Nurses that review each registration to ensure your child is medically able to participate and to ensure these are the safest swimming lessons held for your child.
The tuition for students to become fully skilled is $750.00 per student. Although lessons normally take approximately 4-6 weeks, there is no contract or obligation to complete the full 6 weeks if the child becomes skilled before then. 50% is due at sign up and the other 50% is due on week 3 at at the start of the week. (Monday)
Maintenance lessons (lessons that are offered by me to students who have completed the ISR skills and come back for a skill “tune-up” the same season) Please contact me for further details.
Refresher lessons (lessons that are offered to students who have completed the ISR skills and come back to me to refresh their ISR skills the following season) Please contact me for further details.
FIRE, POLICE AND MILITARY DISCOUNT AVAILABLE