7 Healthcast: Infant swim

Now, many parents are enrolling their infants in a self-rescue training program. Courtney Zavala explains.
 
J.J. at 19 months can be fussy. But this little guy is a survivor in the pool.
 
On his back, with his instructor's touch right on his head, he flaps his arms and floats.

Eventually all by himself.
 
This is what mom Alechia Lacey calls a life-saving technique.
 
"They can go in, and if they don't get their heads above water so that they can scream and make themselves noticed, then they could just slip underneath and disappear," said Lacey.
 
But she doesn't just have J.J. there's his twin sister Alexis too.
 
The kids' barely mastered walking, and after six weeks of lessons with infant swimming resource they can hold their breath underwater and float to safety.
 
"You read about stories, or see them in the news, about kids who drown every summer in swimming pools. And while this doesn't allow them to go free in the water, it does give you some more confidence that if you're not looking for a split second then you might have some extra time," said Mike Lacey, child learning swim survival.
 
This is a whole different approach on swim lessons. What happens in the pool during these classes is really a lesson on survival.
 
"Should they end up in the pool when they need air, or they need to rest, they will roll on their backs and they will float. And they will continue to swim and float until they can either get to the edge when they can get themselves out, or someone will help them out," said Lenie Stroh, certified infant swim instructor.
 
Infant swim requires one on one lessons for about 10 minutes a day. Each day getting a little easier for the babies and for the mommies.

"The first couple of weeks they screamed their heads off. But you know after that they ran to the instructor, they would give her kisses. They were very impressed I think with themselves and what they could do," said Alechia Lacey, mother.
 
And for the Lacey family, it's one more layer of protection in and around the water.

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