Drowning Prevention Starts with Learn To Swim Lessons
Drowning is preventable—and the best way to protect your child is through swim lessons. Learn how consistent, high-quality instruction reduces risk and builds lasting water safety habits.
Why Early, Ongoing Swim Education Is the Best Defense Against Childhood Drowning
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: a silent moment, a brief distraction, and a child in danger in the water. In Canada, accidental drowning claims the lives of over 500 people per year, with children under the age of 5 among the highest-risk groups. But what’s most tragic about these statistics is that most of these deaths are preventable.
At KidsCanSwim, we believe that drowning prevention starts with education—and that learn to swim lessons are one of the most powerful tools a parent can use to keep their child safe. In this post, we’ll explore the real risks, debunk myths, and explain why proactive swim instruction is your child’s best defense.
- Drowning Is Fast, Silent, and Often Misunderstood
One of the biggest misconceptions about drowning is that it’s loud and obvious. In reality, drowning is often quick and quiet. Children can slip under the surface in as little as 20 seconds, and without splashing or calling for help.
According to the Lifesaving Society of Canada, more than 60% of children who drown do so while not being supervised directly, even if adults are nearby. That’s why swim lessons matter: they prepare children for the unexpected, teaching them not just to float or splash—but how to react, recover, and breathe until help arrives.
- Formal Learn tTo Swim Lessons Reduce Drowning Risk by Over 80%
Multiple studies, including those from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, show that children aged 1–4 who receive formal swimming instruction experience an 88% reduction in drowning risk.
But not all lessons are created equal. At KidsCanSwim, our programming is:
- Developmentally aligned (tailored to age and ability)
- Safety-focused, not just stroke-based
- Progressive, ensuring that kids master essential skills before advancing
- Taught by certified instructors trained in emergency response
It’s not about creating Olympians—it’s about saving lives.
- Start Early: The Sooner, The Safer
Infants can begin learning water safety basics as early as 4 months old. While babies won’t be swimming laps, they can learn essential water acclimation and survival skills—like holding their breath, floating, and finding the pool wall.
The earlier a child starts:
- The more comfortable they become in aquatic environments
- The fewer fears or anxieties they develop
- The stronger their reflexes and reactions to water emergencies become
That’s why KidsCanSwim encourages early exposure through fun, parent-supported classes that feel more like playtime than instruction—while still teaching life-saving skills.
- Ongoing Lessons Reinforce Safe Habits
Water safety isn’t something you can learn once and forget. Just like seatbelt use or
crossing the street, water safety is a habit—and habits need to be practiced consistently.
KidsCanSwim’s structured curriculum allows children to:
- Build on previous knowledge week after week
- Develop automatic responses to water-related challenges
- Stay active and engaged all year round, especially during off-seasons
This consistency is key. Children who continue lessons through the winter are more likely to retain their skills and react effectively in summer situations—whether that’s pool parties, beach days, or cottage trips.
- Supervision Isn’t Enough Without Swim Skills
Even the most attentive parent can’t prevent every fall, every slip, or every moment of
curiosity. That’s why swim skills are your child’s last line of defense. Consider this:
- A toddler falls into a backyard pool
- An older sibling pushes someone into the deep end
- A child at a crowded beach wanders too far
In each of these scenarios, independent swimming ability can mean the difference between life and tragedy. Swim lessons give children the tools to:
- Stay calm
- Roll onto their back
- Call for help or paddle to safety
We teach these skills early and reinforce them often—because real-world readiness matters more than textbook knowledge.