What ISR Parents are Saying
If your child has previously gone through ISR lessons, we invite you to share your story with us so that we may use it to help educate other parents about ISR's self-rescue technique and aquatic safety. Also, please take the time to read through some of the inspiring stories below.
*If you are new to ISR and would like to find out more about lessons, please use the Instructor Locator
on the left to find an instructor in your area.
Byron's Story
Dear ISR, We can't thank you enough for the service you are doing to save children from drowning! Our son, Byron, is 2.5 years old. He was nearing the end of his lessons with our wonderful instructor, Barb Davis, when we went on vacation to Missouri. It was the last week of April, 2008 on a cold, windy day. Byron was wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, diaper, and socks and shoes. We were standing on a pier over a lake watching the water, which was quite cold and dark. Byron squatted down to throw a stick in the water, but he lost his balance and fell head first off the pier. I saw a swirl of colors for only an instant, and then he was gone. He disappeared completely in the deep, muddy water. I was standing right next to him when it happened, but I felt so helpless because I couldn't see where he was. A moment later, Byron's little face popped up out of the water, he took a breath, and swam right to the side of the pier! He was cold and unhappy, but perfectly healthy. No medical treatment was necessary. I am so grateful Byron learned aquatic survival because this could have been a drowning situation. Thank God for ISR!
Sincerely,
Adrianna Lathrop
Tylie's Story
We had an inground pool put in last summer. We have taken all the recommended safety precautions (fence, locks, alarms), but we feel like you can never be too safe when it comes to your children and water. While on vacation in Hawaii, I watched an 18 month old girl swim and play in the water. She was swim/floating. I was fascinated. Her mom told me about ISR. When we got home, I found Nancy. I signed Tylie up right away. We live in Northern Virginia and I had to drive 30 minutes both ways, five days a week, with my two other children (5 and 3) in tow. It was worth every minute!! Tylie is our third child, and she is now 18 months old. I was amazed at how quickly she caught on. She cried a lot during the lessons, but the cry was not a scared one. She was more mad. After the third week or so, she settled down a lot. Now that it is summer and we are in the pool everyday, I'm so glad I did it. Tylie is so respectful of the water. She loves it. I get in with her each day and we spend a few minutes getting into a float from various positions. Nancy let me get in the water during the last week and she showed me the different techniques to use. I was so pleased that several of my friends with pools have enrolled their children in the program.
Sincerely,
Amber Thrash
Sawyer's Story
I am so thankful for the ISR lessons (provided in my area by Stefani Norville). As a new parent with a pool at home I just knew that I had to seek out some safety training for my baby. I was so glad that I was able to start my son at 6.5 months old and I am confident now that he will be able to turn himself onto his back and float should an accident ever happen. The knowledge that I have an extra few minutes is priceless!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Stong
Regan's Story
Deana- I just wanted to send you an e-mail to personally thank you for all you have done for both of my children. First of all, Madison is floating like a champ and somewhat swimming like a fish. We were at Julie's today and we couldn't get them out of the pool. They were jumping from the beach step out into the water and swimming/floating (Madison) to the steps. It was awesome to watch.
Now for the "ah-ha" moment as Oprah would put it, Julie and I were sitting there talking, Madison and Chloe were jumping in the pool and Regan was playing on the beach step as we thought. As you well know it only takes a second, the girls yell, "Mommy, mommy look!" Julie and I both turn at the same time to see Regan floating on her back towards the wall. I can't tell you what it feels like as a mother to have a moment like that and realize how thankful you are to the one person that saved your kids life. Thank you so much for everything you have done. A situation today that could have been so tragic, makes you realize how important this program is. In the three years that I have been through ISR with my children, I have never been as comfortable around water with both of them as I have this year, and I owe it all to you.
Thanks again for doing what you do!
Lisa
Sydney and Spencer's Story
Letter of Recommendation for Yvonne Mouser Yvonne taught my daughter, Sydney age 3, and my son, Spencer age 2, the infant swim self-rescue techniques during the summer of 2007. We had recently relocated from New Jersey to Orlando. Our new home had a pool and our children did not know how to swim. We had heard of the Infant Swim Resource program from a neighbor. We had our reservations, but decided to give it a try. It was one of the best decisions that we have ever made for our children. During the first week, it was difficult to listen to our children cry as they did not like the water. Yvonne did an excellent job in showing us that our children were progressing. Through her confidence and reassuring demeanor, we noticed how much our children were learning. It should also be noted that our children responded differently to Yvonne's teaching. Yvonne seamlessly and naturally adjusted to meet each child's needs. All I can say is Amazing, Unbelievable, and Forever Thankful. Yvonne taught my children how to survive in the water. Sydney and Spencer are able to swim - float - swim across our pool. Starting from a point of being scared and crying to be in the water, it is amazing that today; Sydney and Spencer absolutely love to be in the water. They are able to jump into the deep end of the pool and swim – float - swim to safety. Whenever we travel and stay at hotels, we are always stopped and questioned about how well our children swim. How old are they? What only 3 and 4? How did you teach them? That is when we explain ISR and how the program works. After watching our children in the pool, the conversations always end with – I must sign my kids up or tell my children or friends about ISR. It would be our pleasure to share about our experience.
Sincerely,
Pamela and Timothy Rothka
Caden's Story
Well, we hestiated writing this as we thought at first this makes us out to be bad parents, after this story you will see how it actually makes us out to be parents of the year by choosing and following through with ISR. We also wanted everyone to know that this can happen to you.. My husband is a firefighter, paramedic, emt in Florida, for over 17 years, so I am sure you understand, he has seen it all. He is, and putting it lightly, extremely anal, when it comes to watching his kids, after all no one watches your kids better than you right???. Well, here is our story, We live on the water, we have a pool, we boat 3 or 4 times a week, we pick up our daughter from elementary school by boat (it beats traffic here in florida). My parents live on the water and have a pool, my husbands parents also have a pool. Why wouldn't we put our 22 month old in ISR, well frankly its because I thought it would hurt him, I signed up and whimped out, I called and canceled the lesson. Thank goodness Famerra Hopkins called me back and asked what I was affraid of, after explaining my fears to her, she offered for us to come talk to parents and watch a few lessons. Which we did and after that day we followed through with our lessons. Just after slightly 4 weeks into the lessons, my 22 month old (caden) had learned the breath control and was just learning how to float, we ventured to an nearby island we visit EVERY sunday morning with friends. Just feet off the this island there is a terrible rip current, so we stay close to all the kids. As my son is standing in knee deep water right next to my husband, my husband turns his head to talk to someone to say hi and Caden takes one step to the left where there was a hole. Caden went under and no one knew it, after just seconds we hear caden grunting and my husband looks next to him and caden is floating on his back a few feet away. We had no idea that the sand was uneven right there and caden had stepped where he couldn't touch and had gone under, held his breath, then flipped over to breath and we heard his breathing, grunting and grabbed him. He did it we did not even take in any water he was not coughing at all - he held his breath and turned to floa t on his back to breathe. ISR and Famerra Hopkins, I can not thank you enough, we want everyone to know, DONT THINK IT CANT HAPPEN TO YOU.. No matter how much you watch your kids IT CAN HAPPEN, it only takes a second, just a single second. ISR is so worth the money as the alternative is just unaccetable. THANK YOU ISR - We will do everything we can to keep him into the lessons, and we will talk to talk everyone we know about these lessons. My husband saves peoples lives and ISR saves our most treasured blessing our son. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.. Kapi, Billy, Chasten and Caden
Sincerely,
Karli
Devin's Story
Thank you to ISR and to our wonderful instructor, Nancy for providing this essential service to the public. My 7-year old daughter, Devin, took lessons in 2002. The summer after her winter/spring lessons we were hanging around our pool with some friends. Devin was playing on the pool steps and we were sitting on the side of the pool watching her. We turned our heads for just a few seconds and when we turned back we saw that Devin had reached for a ball that floated away. She must have reached too far or lost her balance on the steps. She was floating on her back just like she learned in her ISR lessons and not panicking. She was fine. We were shaken, but relieved that she had completed her ISR training and knew exactly what to do. We now understand first hand the benefits of ISR training and how you can't afford to turn your head for just one second. This spring 2008, my 5- and 2-year old sons, Graham and Owen completed ISR training with Nancy in Northern Virginia. She miraculously transformed a scared, screaming toddler into a confident and competent one with water self-rescue skills. Her gentle yet strong teaching style and firm grasp of the ISR methodology were the perfect mix to bring out the confidence in both of my boys. They went from screaming and running from the pool the first week of lessons to asking each day when they could go to swimming and see "Miss Nancy". I am a firm believer and staunch supporter of ISR. THANK YOU to ISR and to Nancy for providing and teaching water self-rescue skills to my children. It is a gift beyond words.
~Erin Martin
Sincerely,
Karli
Jakob's Story
Our 18 mo. old son Jakob was outside playing in the backyard with my husband. I had been asking my husband for months to get a fence installed around our pool, even though Jakob completed ISR training because I didn't want him falling in. Sure enough, Jakob threw one of our dog's toys in the pool and went right in after it. Before my husband or I could get to the pool to retrieve Jakob he was doing his float. It made me feel SO much better (even though of course I was freaking out!). ISR is the most amazing resource out there & we are SO thankful for Angela our instructor. She is the BEST! (And yes, the fence went in 2 days later).
Sincerely,
Karli
Jack's Story
For Spring Break, we went to visit my parents in Florida. When we arrived, knowing that they had a pool, we went swimming with Jack, our 2-year-old son, and reviewed with him what Darla Sandy had taught us in her ISR class. It had been a few weeks since his last lesson but was apparent that he knew what to do. We flipped him, he floated, he swam between us, etc. Through out the week, we were impressed that he seemed to be so aware of the pool and that he couldn't "walk on water". He also liked throwing the ball for my parent's dog, and many times it went into the pool. When we would retrieve it, he would get on all fours and crawl to the edge of the pool and lay on his belly so he could watch. If anything, I thought, he knows about water.
On our last day there, my husband and I were outside watching Jack throw the ball for the dog between the pool and the lanai. As I left to go inside, my husband started to put his laptop away so he could watch Jack. While he was looking down into his briefcase, Jack threw the ball into the pool by mistake. I suppose he had seen us get the ball out of the pool many times, and decided this time he would try himself. I was just coming around the corner to ask my husband a question, when I heard the splash and the dog bark. By the time I got to the pool edge, Jack was floating and turning to grab the side of the pool. When I asked my husband what happened, he said the he was looking down, heard the splash, and by the time he got to the edge, Jack was already floating. We lifted Jack out of the pool and he said, "All done!" just as he did after each lesson. He gave us each a high five. We are speculating that he went in after the ball since the ball was floating next to him. Even with us being outside with him, but looking down for only a moment, Jack fell in.
Thank you one million times for coming to Oklahoma to teach this class. Truly our lifesaver.
Sincerely,
Courtney Hudson
Chase's Story
My friend from work sent me the video of little Miles. It impacted me deeply and I didn't hesistate. I was so fortunate to find Krista the local ISR instructor and had my barely 2 year old son, Chase signed up for the following Monday morning.
Chase screamed and tried to hit Krista throughout the entire week. She, however, remained calm and unrattled. She continued to gently guide Chase through the lessons. Because he was so upset, she utilized the float technique, as this seemed to help calm him.
After one week, I considered taking him out of the class. The next day (Saturday) we went to my Mom's house for a day in the pool. After we finished, I took Chase and his sister (age 6) and her little friend, to a room at the back end of the house to dry them off and get them all dressed.
I left them all there watching cartoons and eating snacks, while I went back to the pool to gather all of our belongings. As I picked up the toys I spoke for a moment with my husband. Then I had a bad feeling and said to my husband, "Ya know, I don't know where Chase is right now, I can't talk." Then proceeded back towards the room I had left him in with the older girls.
If I had taken any other path but the one I took, it would not have lead me past the jacuzzi. As I walked by I saw what looked like a doll floating in the water. It was my son! I jumped in and grabbed him. My husband was on us in an instant and we prepared to give him CPR. As we layed him down we realized that he was fine. No coughing, no crying!
After the accident I was able to reflect on what my two eyes had seen. Chase was floating on his back, face up! He was fully clothed, shoes and all.
This little boy saved himself! And after only 5 days of 10 minute sessions. I know that Krista, ISR, and my co-worker, save my sons life. If Chase had not had this training, which was miminal at best, he would have died.
My story is like so many I heard before. It happens in an instant. There wasn't a splash, a gulp, or a sound! We were standing right there! I never really thought it would happen to me. I am a good mother. But, it did happen to me.
I am urging anyone who will listen to me to take every sacrifice and put your small children through this program. I am honest when I say that I was initially skeptical, but willing to try it out. I am here now to say that my beautiful little blued-eyed sunshine would not be here if it weren't for the program and the beautiful instructor Krista! Chase has now finished his lessons, he can swim and float and he loves the water!
Gratefully,
Chelsea Bryan
Laguna Niguel, CA
Ty's Story
Our 2 year old son, Ty, was two weeks shy of finishing his initial roll-to-float lessons when we got a first hand demonstration of how well ISR works.
Here's our story:
We had our son in swim lessons with the British Swim school for a few months when my husband told me that he was actually getting worse in the water-more clingy and less secure. We took him out immediately and were trying to find a new swim program when we received an email from a friend showing the video of Miles. We knew it was exactly what we were looking for. We signed him up and began lessons right away.
A month later my mother-in-law was playing with my son near their pool and got distracted by someone else for a split second. Just as she turned her attention back to him she started to scream as she saw him falling-head first-into the deep end of the pool 10 feet away. At the same time, I saw him falling in and ran to jump in to get him. Just as I reached the side of the pool, I saw him pop up and float - just like he did in his lessons. This time, however, he was fully clothed in jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, sneakers and socks, as it was a cold day. We hadn't got to that part of our lessons yet!! I pulled him right out of the pool and saw that, thankfully, he was just fine. If it wasn't for ISR I honestly don't know what would have happened. In the very least I imagine he would have been pretty traumatized and at the very worst we may have lost our son.
We will forever be grateful to ISR and to our wonderful instructor, Kristy Wexler. We will continue to recommend ISR to everyone we can. Thank you again for your wonderful program.
With Heartfelt Gratitude,
Jean & Scott
Justice's Story
Our 14 month old son finished his ISR classes in February. This Saturday, our whole family was outside playing. I went into the house to cook dinner and my husband stayed out with the children. At one point, our oldest daughter walked away from my husband and told him she was going inside. My 14 month old followed her. My husband thought she knew he followed her, she didn't. In the beginning of my sons ISR classes, he had a certain cry when he was being trained in the water. It wasn't his normal cry. It sounded like he was saying "I don't like being in this water!" As I stood there in my kitchen, I recognized that specific cry. I ran out the back door and found my son floating in our very cold pool, with perfect ISR form, fully clothed in two layers of clothing, a very wet diaper, and tennis shoes. I reached in the water and picked him up (he was close to the edge) and he didn't even cough. He accidentally fell in that cold pool and automatically remembered what he was taught....so much so that he didn't swallow one bit of water! We dried him off, warmed him up...and he was perfectly fine.
Since yesterday, I have been just staring at my baby in amazement. In the full knowledge that had we not made the sacrifices we did to get him water trained, he would be dead right now. None of us heard him fall in that pool, we only heard him cry. We would not have heard that cry had he not been taught the self rescue technique. My heart aches for other parents who have lost babies to water accidents. ISR's goal to ensure "that not one more child drowns" was fulfilled today. I strongly encourage everyone who has children to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to make your baby water safe. This program works, our son is L-I-V-I-N-G proof! And a huge thank you to his instructors, Bonnie and Becky!
Larry and Karri
Magnolia, TX
(Attached picture is Justice with his big sister, who also is ISR trained)
Elizabeth's Story
We have a 5 year old daughter who started taking swim classes at our club in California when she was 6 months old. She immediately took to the water and was swimming 8 feet under water by the time she was 8 months old. This of course gave her a false confidence because if there was not a wall to grab on to, or a person, she would drown. When she was 1 1/2 years old, the ISR program was brought to our club. We enrolled her and in less than three weeks, she was totally water safe.
She continued smim lessons with her ISR teacher and then began to learn strokes, and by the time she was 3, she was swimming 10 laps of an OLYMPIC pool.
Last month we were on a vacation in the Caribbean, (she just turned 5 in January) and we swam out to a floating raft a fair distance from the shore. We met some older children on the raft, and our daughter being an extremely friendly and outgoing child, made friends with them. Suddenly the boys dove into the water to swim back. They were probably about 10 years old. Our daughter dove in after them... we were watching her..and we immediately jumped in after her... but she was ahead of us, (she is fast...) and we just couldn't catch up..I could see that she was getting tired and I was starting to panic as we swam towards her...when suddenly she just rolled onto her back and "rested" which is the technique she learned when she was 1 1/2 years old from ISR, and HASN'T USED IT SINCE!!!...and then she continued to swim into shore, totally relaxed, no panic, no stress. It was incredible to see, she just intuitively rolled to her back, just as she did many years before.
I see so many children in the water, much older than she is, who still can't swim, and they are using water wings, or other forms of flotation, which are really not adequate in preventing drowing. We are so thankful to ISR for making our children a confident, safe and incredible swimmer.
Brenden's Story
In September of 2007, I was introduced to ISR via that amazing video of the 9 month old baby (Miles). That video touched me in such a way that the very next day I was on the phone looking for an instructor. We found Emma Grynbal and signed up for lessons. My son was 14 months old when we started. After four weeks, Ms. Emma and I decided that he had the adequate training as he had learned the float technique so well. In February of 2008, just 5 months after the lessons, my son was kicking his feet in the water of our family pool and slid in the deep end. My husband and I immediately ran to the edge of the pool in fear and to our amazement he was turning him self over into the float position. I was shocked. He had not been in a pool since he had the lessons due to the weather turning cold but yet he instinctively knew what to do. Even though this incident happened when my husband and I were watching our son, it could have easily happened at a time that we were not. I feel that if it wasn't for ISR and the lessons he had the outcome may have been much different. I am confident now that if the incident happens again, my son will be able to help himself in saving his life. Thanks ISR!!!
Helen's Story
Last year our babysitters found our 3 year floating face down in the deep end of our pool. She was airlifted to the hospital where she was in the PICU hooked up to a ventilator for a week before being moved to another floor for 9 more days. Miraculously, she survived. When my neighbor sent me the video of Miles, I knew there was no way I would not sign my daughter up for this. She has just started her second week and she can already swim several feet in the water and is making unbelievable progress in such a short time. I have begun spreading the word about ISR to everyone and so many are ready to sign up. Nobody should have to go through what we went through last year and ISR is the best way I can see to prevent it. Thanks so much.
360 Education
ISR educates your child on self-rescue. ISR educates you as well. Every parent receives The Parent Resource Book, developed by Dr. Harvey Barnett, founder of ISR. This informative and detailed book covers topics such as attitudes, emotions, and physiology as well as family aquatic safety. As your child learns self-rescue, you will be learning valuable lessons about keeping your family safe for years to come.
For additional information or questions, please use the Instructor Locator in the orange box on your left to find a Certified ISR Instructor near you.
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