Though incidents such as kidnappings and shootings often grab headlines, drowning is a much more common cause of death for children growing up in the U.S. So, before the gun safety lectures and “stranger danger” classes, parents might be wise to make sure their children are capable of holding their heads above water.
One couple this week has set the internet on fire by showing just how early children can be taught not only how to save themselves from drowning, but to develop swimming skills rivaling those of some adults. A video posted to YouTube back in August 2012 went viral this week, showing a 16-month-old girl swimming freely and expertly across a swimming pool:
The child’s father, Adam Christensen, posted the video and emphasized in the video’s description that the girl, named Elizabeth, was in no danger. He stated that he and his wife are both CPR certified, and that his wife worked as a life guard for six years. From the video description:
At no point do we force our child to do anything she is unwilling to try. We are able to recognize infant/toddler fatigue in the swimming pool. Elizabeth is a very determined little girl and sometimes she wants to roll over and breath as she was taught and sometimes she wants to hold her breath the whole way. I was 100% prepared to jump in at first sign of distress. Please watch some of the other videos I’ve posted of her swimming and spread the word. Teach your child how to swim because it only takes a moment for them to slip under and drown.