FAQ

Location and Schedule

  • I teach lessons in my backyard in a heated pool in the Wilderness Trails Subdivision in Friendswood, TX. Located right next to Friendswood High School.

  • Lessons are 10 minutes per day, five days a week (Monday through Friday), for approximately six weeks. Consistency is crucial, so is daily attendance for optimal progress.

  • ISR Self-Rescue Skills are sensorimotor skills, much like walking or riding a bike—they don’t simply disappear, though they can get rusty without practice. I recommend refresher or maintenance lessons to keep skills sharp, especially as children grow.

  • No. I am able to reach more students by teaching in one location.

Lesson Structure

  • No, all lessons are one-on-one to ensure personalized instruction and safety.

  • Parents don’t typically need to get in the water the first few weeks of lessons. I do require that a parent get in the pool a couple times during the last weeks of lessons to ensure you are comfortable swimming with your child using their new skill.

  • Yes! All students must complete a medical history review conducted by ISR’s nursing team. They provide tailored protocols to address individual needs, ensuring a safe and customized learning experience.

  • Short answer: no.

    In September 2018, the American College of Emergency Physicians declared that terminology such as “dry drowning,” “wet drowning,” “near drowning,” “secondary drowning,” and “delayed drowning,” should no longer be used. 

    There are three medically recognized types of drowning: (1) fatal, (2) nonfatal with injuries, and (3) nonfatal without injuries. 

    Unfortunately the outdated terms are continuously sensationalized and used by the media. 

    Drowning does not happen days to a week after being in water. There are no medically accepted conditions known as ‘near-drowning,’ ‘dry drowning’ and ‘secondary drowning.'

    As for the concern about inhaling water during swimming: There are 2 tubes– esophagus which goes to the stomach and the trachea which goes to the lungs. If water is swallowed it goes to the stomach & is absorbed or peed out. The epiglottis naturally blocks water from going into the lungs. A child would have to have to be unconscious or the epiglottis would have to be jarred in some way for it not to function properly. If a child inhales some water while playing in the bath or gets dunked in the pool during water tag, there’s no need to worry.

    Here are some reputable sources to check out:

Age and Experience

  • Children as young as six months (who can sit upright independently) are eligible. Starting earlier ensures your child is safer sooner. “The sooner the safer!” -all ISR Instructors

  • There is an important difference between fear and apprehension because you are not yet skilled in a new environment. Like going to a new school or beginning a new activity, it's normal to see some tears or hear some protesting during the first few ISR lessons. I am new to your child, and this is a new activity—so it's all to be expected.

    The best thing you can do for your child is to approach lessons like you do the car seat.Sometimes kids hate the car seat—they scream and pitch a complete fit about going in it! But we don't apologize to them or feel bad that they are crying about it because we know with absolute certainty it is what's best for them to keep them safe.

    ISR is the same way—these are life skills that they will use and are proof of your commitment to their safety and wellbeing as their parents. If parents are super emotional that first week because their children are adjusting to lessons, the children can feel that! The more relaxed and at ease you are, the faster they will adapt to this new environment. For more information, see ISR's Crying Protocol.

    Remember, fear is a learned behavior. We didn't come out of the womb afraid of spiders or water or large dogs. 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.

  • Yes! Many children have come to me after experiences in other programs and master the skills.

  • This is up to your instructor. I teach children over 6 years of age. I would love to help!

Pricing and Enrollment

  • There are two costs associated with ISR Self-Rescue lessons: Instructor fees and National ISR Registration fees.

    Instructor Fees

    $130 per week. First week’s tuition is due upon securing a lesson spot.

    Registration Fees

    A one-time $105 ISR registration fee (non-refundable) is also required and covers a medical background check. Registration updates are then $40 annually.

    Outside resources for need-based financial scholarships are available upon request.

  • ISR has been researched and developed for almost 60 years. It is globally recognized as the safest swim program for infants and children. Your child will learn life-saving skills that traditional lessons do not provide.

    1) ISR teaches your child to SWIM with their face in the water. We use absolutely no flotation devices (noodles, swim barbells, puddle jumpers, etc.). When a child finds themselves in the water alone, they are typically not holding on to any type of flotation device. We teach your child to be totally independent in the water.

    2) ISR teaches your child to float on their back when they need to take a rest and breath. Being horintal, on one’s back, is the survival position. A child can not continously tread water without getting tired. Being vertical, and bouncing up-and-down in the water, is considered the drowning position. We teach a child to be completely horizontal, while resting on their back.

    3) Many parents seek ISR after spending hundreds of dollars on traditional swim programs, frustrated because their child doesn’t have any discernible skills after weeks, months, or even years of lessons.

    4) You end up spending more money over time on traditional lessons that are taught by former high school swimmers or college students trying to make some spending money over the summer.

    5) 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 8 weeks, we are in the pool 5x per week for several hours a day, for a minimum of 60 hours with ACTUAL students. In addition, we receive extensive hours of academic training in anatomy, physiology, child psychology, behavior and development, sensorimotor learning, and how each relates to the aquatic environment. Every instructor also maintains CPR and First Aid certifications, as well as annual recertification and testing to maintain our ISR certification and skills.

    Lastly, if you add up what you’d spend in a traditional swim program for a few weeks during the summer – where your child leaves the class with little to no skills – and then multiply that by every summer until they are 6 years old, this program costs significantly less and the value is infinitely greater.

  • The success of ISR training relies heavily on consistent attendance. Here's my policy on missed lessons:

    Lesson Credits and Makeups:

    • Lessons that are missed due to weather or illness will be credited back to your account.

    Session Length Flexibility: While sessions typically run 6 weeks, the actual duration can vary based on your child's progress:

    • Some children master skills more quickly and may finish early

    • Others may need additional time to develop reliable skills

    • For excused absences (illness or extenuating circumstances), I will arrange additional time for your child to be in the pool with me.

    I understand that life events happen, but consistent attendance is crucial for skill development. Please plan your schedule accordingly to maximize your child's learning experience.

  • Please visit my Scheduler to see available times and start dates. Once a time is selected, it will walk you through the rest of the ISR registration process.

  • Please put your name on the waitlist if you do not see anything that fits your schedule. Things do change and I would love to work your child in if possible.