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MEET COACH BREIANNA

Becoming a mom changes your outlook on life, the new responsibility you have over another life that depends on you is one of the biggest and greatest responsibilities you will ever have. I take that responsibility very seriously and if I’m being honest one of the biggest topics my husband and I talked about was how to keep our kids safe in and around the water.

We moved into a home that had an inground pool when our twins were about a year old. I grew up around pools and water and was very comfortable but my husband was not as comfortable as I was. We set up multiple layers of protection, pool fences, alarms, cameras, extra door locks, an automatic pool cover and signed them up for traditional swim lessons all to ensure that our kids were safe. We still had a sinking feeling in our stomachs that we needed to do more!

I will never forget reading a story in a local twin moms’ group about a family who had just suffered their worst nightmare, their twins that were right around the same age as my twins both went into the water at a family party and were drowning. They were rescued but for one of the children he suffered life altering damage that will impact his life forever, I followed their post drowning journey daily. It really hit home for me and affected me profoundly.

I started researching swim safety for kids and came across ISR. I enrolled my kids right away and now have 3 children who have completed the ISR program and continue on with their maintenance and refresher courses. It is a big commitment to take on (5 days a week, 10-minute sessions, for 6 weeks) but for me it was one that was easy because the outcome held so much weight for our family.

I talk about it to anyone I can because I believe it was one of the greatest things we have ever done for our children, giving them the ability and confidence to save their life. The peace of mind that came with that for us as parents is something I may never be able to fully put into words but I want to give that feeling to as many parents as I can.

As a swim parent myself and watching all 3 of my children successfully learn life saving skills, I can personally say that it was a moment that I think about often. I cried through a lot of their sessions because of the immense pride I had for them. Watching the confidence that radiated from each of them and how proud they were of their hard work is something to date that has not been replicated, it is an amazing thing to see! I wanted to emulate that feeling for parents and children over and over again while reaching as many families as I possibly could to give them the gift of these life-saving aquatic skills. I took the steps to become a certified ISR instructor.

While drowning prevention is the heartbeat of why I have chosen to do what I do, I am very passionate about your child's well being as a whole. As a mom of 2 children that had speech delays, I understand the added level of concern around water when there is communication barriers in your child. I feared that if my child did ever find themselves in a life threatening situation near water would they be able to yell for me? I needed to give them more tools to save themselves in water in the event their communication skills weren’t in place at that time. I understand the challenges that come with children that have varying levels of developmental delays and want to lock arms with ALL parents to meet your child where they're at developmentally and support them on their journey to building confidence in and out of the water.

My vast understanding of the science behind ISR, behaviors in children and how it correlates to the mind and body in and out of water gives me the capability to work with children from all walks of life and on varying spectrums from autism, SPD and more.

I became an ISR instructor to live out the mission of “not one more child drowns” and be a part of the ripple effect of a larger responsibility to teach children life saving skills in water and give families the knowledge of the importance of water safety. We exist to save one child at a time and I look forward to being a part of your family's journey to safer swimming.

EMAIL BREIANNA

FOLLOW BREIANNA ON INSTAGRAM

@ISRMIDWEST

FOLLOW BRITTNEY ON INSTAGRAM

@ISR_FLOAT_LIFE

MEET COACH BRITTNEY

I'm a single mom, whose son just went away to college in the fall of 2023. I have been working with children ages 6 weeks to 6 years for 18 years. During this time, I have supported kids with all different abilities create routines, advance their communication, and engage their problem-solving abilities.

As I adventure into this new milestone of life with my son being gone, I thought it would be a good time for a change.

I was first introduced to ISR by a friend whose children were taking it at the time. I was so excited to see how this changed their lives and brought so much empowerment & confidence to her children’s lives. The confidence and safety is unmatched.

When the opportunity to be an instructor came up, I knew this was absolutely the next step that needed to take place in my life. I feel like I have found my calling.

I cannot wait to join the mission towards “Not one more child drowns.” And to share our ISR journey together.

EMAIL BRITTNEY

ALL ABOUT ISR

THE ISR PHILOSOPHY

ISR is the global leader in the industry it pioneered in 1966: survival swimming lessons for infants and young children. Our team of highly-trained ISR Instructors provides the safest and most effective survival swimming lessons available. The ISR lessons our students receive today is a product of nearly 60 years of research and experience to achieve unparalleled results each day in pools around the world.

THE ISR MISSION

Today, our mission, “Not One More Child Drowns,” is the foundation of everything we do and is the driving force behind ISR’s employees, our independent ISR Instructors, and our major corporate partnerships. We believe the successful prevention of the leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 4 in the U.S. will require a large group of caring and capable professionals whose sole focus is to save lives.

THE ISR FACTS

To date, we have delivered more than 19,000,000 ISR Self-Rescue Lessons. ISR believes in multiple layers of defense against aquatic accidents which include pool fences, alarms, and active adult supervision. However, traditional lines of defense break down, and the over 4,000 drowning deaths per year bear a grim testament to the fact that traditional approaches are missing a key component: the child. ISR’s core conviction is that the child is the most important part of a drowning prevention strategy and our over 450,000 ISR graduates and hundreds of documented survival stories, are proof that children can, and do, save themselves. Children are curious, capable, and have an uncanny ability to overcome obstacles like pool fences; at ISR we take that ability and teach them skills to potentially save themselves if they find themselves in the water alone.

UNDERSTANDING THE ISR LESSON

ROLLBACK TO FLOAT

INFANTS TO EARLY WALKERS

The rollback to float program, starting at 6 months old, teaches your baby to independently turn themselves onto their back if ever face down in the water. Your little one will learn how to safely breathe, rest, and float on their back until help arrives.

Swimmers perform these survival swimming skills first in a swim suit, then while fully clothed.

SWIM-ROLLBACK -FLOAT

EARLY WALKERS

With swim-rollback-float lessons, your child will learn how to swim underwater until they need to breathe, roll to their back to rest, breathe, and float until rescued by an adult.

If your child has just begun to walk, this is typically the right program for them. Swimmers perform these survival swimming skills first in a swim suit, then while fully clothed.

SWIM-FLOAT-SWIM

INDEPENDENT WALKERS (ages 1.5-6yrs old)

This program teaches your child to hold their breath and swim underwater with eyes open. They will learn to roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe, then flip over to resume swimming.

Children are taught to repeat this swim-float-swim sequence until they reach the side of the pool or pool steps or are rescued by an adult. Swimmers perform these survival swimming skills first in a swim suit, then while fully clothed.

MAINTENANCE & REFRESHERS

SKILLED ISR STUDENTS

Students who have been previously skilled in ISR will be offered Maintenance & Refresher opportunities to maintain their skills and confidence throughout the year. Maintenance is the most common follow up option. These lessons are typically suggested at a cadence of 1-2x lessons every ~10-12 weeks. Refreshers are daily lessons for 1-3 weeks and are offered as instructor avails allow every 6 mos or so, primarily for students who could not attend maintenance. Parents will work with their instructor to determine a Maintenance + Refresher schedule that is right for their child.

WATER SAFETY TIPS

THE PROBLEM

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for infants and young children between the ages of 1-4. Keeping your family safe in and around the water motivates everything we do at ISR.

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

The most critical line of defense is adult supervision. No level of aquatic skill can replace active supervision. If your child is ever missing, check the water first.

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

A moment's inattention does not have to cost a child his life. ISR's Self-Rescue training is an added layer of protection, teaching your child water survival skills in a completely safe environment.

CPR

POOL FENCES

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

If an emergency happens, it is essential parents and families are prepared. Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and remember to update those skills regularly.

ALARMS

POOL FENCES

Make sure all doors and windows leading to the pool are locked and alarmed.

POOL FENCES

Make sure all doors and windows leading to the pool are locked and alarmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Infant Swimming Resources?

Founded in 1966 by Dr. Harvey Barnett, Infant Swimming Resource is the industry leading provider of self rescue survival swimming lessons for infants and young children. The skills students learn in ISR lessons are designed to help children save their own lives in the event of an aquatic emergency. Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) is a company, not a method or instruction of teaching. Not all survival swimming lessons are ISR lessons.

What will my child learn during lessons?

ISR’s unique results are achieved through fully customized, safe and effective, one-on-one lessons with only your child and the Instructor in the water. What your child will learn, and the way he or she will learn it, is what makes ISR so different from traditional swimming lessons. Always putting safety first, ISR emphasizes competence, which leads to confidence, and provides the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment in and around the water. All ISR students, regardless of age, will learn ISR self rescue aquatic survival skills. Children 6 months to approximately 20 months of age focus on teaching the child to roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe, and to be able to maintain this life-saving position until help arrives. Lessons for children approximately 20 months and up focus on teaching the swim-float-swim survival sequence. Children learn to swim ; roll onto their back to float, rest, and breathe; and roll back over to resume swimming until they reach the side of the pool, where they can either crawl out or until they can be rescued.

Why are lessons 5 days per week and for only 10 minutes?

The reason for this is multifaceted. First, repetition and consistency are crucial elements of learning for young children. Research shows that short, more frequent lessons result in higher retention. Second, most children have fairly short attention spans and will not be able to focus on the task for longer and we want to take advantage of the best time for learning. A third reason is that, though the pool temperature is maintained at 78-88 degrees, the temperature is still lower than your child's body temperature. Lessons are work and therefore will also be losing body heat. Instructors check students regularly for temperature fatigue since this is an indicator of physical fatigue.

Why does it take my child an average of 6 weeks to learn the ISR Self-Rescue?

The 6-week average is based on the average time it takes most children to learn these survival skills. Every child is unique, and ISR’s Self-Rescue program is designed based on your child’s specific strengths and needs. It is important to realize that this is an average, meaning some children will finish more quickly while others will need more practice. ISR is dedicated to safety; therefore, we want to provide your child with the appropriate time and best opportunity to become proficient in his/her survival skills. We will always honor your child’s needs.

At what age can my child start ISR lessons?

ISR lessons are designed for infants as young as 6 months old (who can sit up independently on their own) and kids as old as 6 years old. Starting early helps build foundational water safety skills and instills confidence in the water, but even if your child is older then 6 years old they can still succeed with ISR lessons. Don't hesitate to inquire about your older child.

Are swimming lessons for infants and young children safe?

YES! ISR is dedicated to safety and maintaining numerous safety protocols to promote safe lessons. Your child's health and well-being are our highest priority and are closely monitored daily. Also, your child's medical and developmental history is a mandatory part of the ISR national registration process, all of which are held strictly confidential. All ISR instructors undergo intensive and rigorous training that far exceeds any other training program of this kind. Each ISR Instructor is also required to attend a yearly re-certification symposium that includes quality control as well as continuing education. Your education in the area of aquatic safety for your entire family is an integral part of your child's lessons. You will receive access to the "Parent Resource Guide", written by Dr. Harvey Barnett and JoAnn Barnett, which will inform you of every aspect of swimming for infants and children. With research, you will find that ISR is the safest survival swimming program but also the most effective for teaching infants and young children.

How do you teach them to hold their breath?

Breath-holding skills are taught in the first lesson. We shape breath control using highly effective positive reinforcement techniques. We continue to reinforce these breath-holding techniques throughout every lesson.

What makes ISR different from traditional swim lessons?

ISR is the product of more than 55 years of ongoing development in aquatic survival instruction for infants and children. ISR's goal is for your child to become an "aquatic problem solver" with the ability to self-rescue in any depth of water. ISR skills will greatly increase your child's chance of surviving an aquatic accident, even when fully clothed!

Will my child fear the water because of lessons?

There is an important difference between being fearful and being apprehensive because you are not yet skilled in a new environment. ISR is not like traditional swim lessons; it is a drowning prevention program that teaches survival swimming. Sometimes as a parent, you make choices for your child’s safety, like sitting in a car seat, because you know they are important. The same can be said for ISR. Fun can be defined as when skill meets challenge. Once competent in their skills, many children cannot be dragged away from the pool. They are having entirely too much FUN.

Do ISR swim lessons include education for parents?

Yes, ISR believes in involving parents in the learning process. Parents receive information on water safety and are encouraged to reinforce skills through continued practice outside of lessons. During each 6-week session, you’ll also get an opportunity to get in the pool with your child and the instructor, so you can learn how to support your child’s skills when spending time together in the water.

How can you teach babies and young children to swim?

ISR instructors teach infants to swim by honoring each child's individual strengths and experiences. They understand the fundamentals of the behavioral sciences, child development and of sensorimotor learning as it relates to the acquisition of aquatic survival skills; they use this education to guide each child through the sequence of learning to swim and float.

Can you teach a child who is not verbal how to swim?

Yes. Consider that children learn to sit, crawl and walk before they learn to speak. Because we teach through sensorimotor learning, verbal skills are not required for a child to acquire Self- Rescue skills. We can communicate with our students through touch and positive reinforcement while striving to set our students up for success every step of the way.

What qualifications does a Certified ISR Instructor have?

Every Certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Instructor worldwide completes an 8-week intensive academic and in-water training and certification program with a minimum of 80 hours of in-water time with a Certified Master Instructor. All instructors must have current CPR and First Aid certification. Once certified, ISR Instructors must undergo annual recertification and are recognized as highly skilled, precise aquatic behavior specialists who understand the unique cognitive, intellectual and physical development dynamics of young children. Understanding the behaviors of children in the water allows each Instructor to respond with ISR’s proprietary technique.

How can I be sure that my swim instructor a Certified ISR Instructor?

There are many instructors who say they teach ISR techniques, however, unless they are listed on the ISR Instructor locator on the official ISR website and meet the criteria below, they are NOT Certified ISR Instructors.

All Certified ISR Instructors:

Have an email address ending in @infantswim.com
Can provide parents with a copy of their current ISR Certificate for review
Offer lessons five consecutive days per week, for a maximum of 10 minutes each day
Will require your child to be registered through ISR’s Online Registration Process and approved to begin lessons by our Registration Evaluation Team (approval email will come from an email address ending in @infantswim.com)
Complete the Daily BUDS Discussion form with you prior to each lesson
Can be found on the instructor locator at locator.infantswim.com

How do the kids react during the first few lessons, will they cry?

Children often fuss during the first few lessons because they are in a new environment and around new people. Crying is a very normal part of the beginning of ISR lessons. New experiences can be uncomfortable and challenging, and crying is a young child’s way of communicating this discomfort. It takes time to build confidence in the water and trust with your child’s instructor, and with time, the crying typically subsides. As your child becomes more confident in his/her ability in the water, the fussing will decrease. It is not unlike the first time you tried a new exercise class or were asked to perform a task at work that you'd never done before: the first time you try a new task it is always challenging until you get the hang of it. It is the same for your young child. Your child is learning to perform a skill that he/she's never done before.

Why do you do clothing lessons?

Because 86% of children, who fall in the water, do so fully clothed, we want our students to have experience with such a situation. If a child has experienced the sensations of being in the water in clothing before an emergency, he/she is less likely to experience panic and be able to focus on the task at hand. If you have ever jumped in the water with clothes on, then you know that there is a significant difference in weight and feel with clothes as opposed to a bathing suit.

Swimming in clothes is part of ISR’s check out procedures, which a student completes near the end of his/her session when his/her skills are fully shaped.

What is the retention rate with ISR lessons?

ISR claims a retention rate of 94-100% up to one year following lessons. Having said this, children will explore and may pick up bad habits watching other children or with interference like floating in a bathtub or playing on the steps. As your child goes through lessons, you will begin to understand, through communication with your Instructor, what activities may interfere with his/her learned Self-Rescue skills. Contacting and/or returning to your instructor promptly is imperative to maintaining effective habits.

Will my child need additional lessons?

Based on our research, we know that refresher/maintenance lessons are important because children change so much both cognitively and physically during the first 4-5 years of life. Their water survival skills must grow with their bodies.

Frequency depends on the child's age, growth rate, skill level and confidence level. The goal of refresher/maintenance lessons is to help your child adjust his/her new body size and weight to his/her existing skill level. Your instructor will work with your child to help fine-tune his or her aquatic experience to assist with building efficiency, which will result in self-confidence. This is especially important if your child has not been able to practice any appropriate aquatic skills between seasons.

Why does ISR cost more than other swim lessons?

While ISR sessions are an up-front investment into developing your child’s swimming skills, the per-lesson cost is similar to that of other swim programs. Typical swim lessons meet once per week, are completed in a group setting, and usually require multiple sessions over the course of years to develop fully independent swimming skills. With survival swim lessons from ISR, your child gets personalized, one-on-one swim instruction 5 days per week, with the knowledge that he or she will acquire independent swimming and Self-Rescue® skills in 6-8 weeks.

Why do you discourage the use of flotation devices?

There are many reasons not to use flotation devices when swimming. They give the child a false sense of security. When a young child learns they can jump and swim independently with a floatie, they won’t realize they can’t do the same thing without one. Floaties also give parents and caretakers a false sense of security. It becomes a lot easier to look away if you believe your child is safe. Even the most attentive parents can get momentarily distracted.

Flotation devices – especially Puddle Jumpers – also teach children to assume a vertical (or drowning) position in the water. Unlike what we often imagine or see in movies, drowning is quiet and fast. Drowning humans are typically in a vertical position, moving their arms and legs as if they are climbing a ladder. Flotation devices that artificially hold children in vertical positions and reinforce this ladder climbing “swimming” motion is a recipe for disaster.

*Properly fitted life jackets should be worn on a boat and in open water.

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POOL LOCATION

5235 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60192, United States

EMAIL COACH BREIANNA BREIANNA.HAWKINS@INFANTSWIM.COM Join Coach Breianna's Waitlist by clicking the button below EMAIL COACH BRITTNEY BRITTNEY.READINGER@INFANTSWIM.COM Join Coach Brittney's Waitlist by clicking the button below

Not One More Child Drowns

Welcome to ISR Midwest

MEET COACH BREIANNA

FOLLOW BREIANNA ON INSTAGRAM

FOLLOW BRITTNEY ON INSTAGRAM

MEET COACH BRITTNEY

ABOUT INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE

ALL ABOUT ISR

THE ISR PHILOSOPHY

THE ISR MISSION

THE ISR FACTS

UNDERSTANDING THE ISR LESSON

ROLLBACK TO FLOAT

SWIM-ROLLBACK -FLOAT

SWIM-FLOAT-SWIM

MAINTENANCE & REFRESHERS

WATER SAFETY TIPS

THE PROBLEM

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

CPR

POOL FENCES

SURVIVAL SWIMMING LESSONS

ALARMS

POOL FENCES

POOL FENCES

POOL FENCES

POOL FENCES

POOL FENCES

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

CONTACT US TO ENROLL NOW

POOL LOCATION

EMAIL ISR MIDWEST

JOIN OUR WAITLIST

Please join our waitlist by clicking the buttons below

contact us to start your isr journey

NOT ONE MORE CHILD DROWNS

ISR Midwest/Chasing Sunsets LLC

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