Self-rescue swim Lessons

Don’t let a moment steal a lifetime

We recommend a multi-layered approach to water safety and firmly believe that the child is the most important part of a drowning prevention strategy. If other layers of protection, including physical barriers break down, a child has a fighting chance at survival. Plus, self-rescue skills are the one layer of protection that travels with the child!

Self-Rescue Swimming Lessons are unique in their structure and timeline.

Designed for children 6 months through 6+ years old.
All lessons are one-on-one with your Senior Master Instructor, Miss Lana, in a private, heated, saltwater pool.
Lessons are daily, which is imperative for skill progression and retention.
Each student has a dedicated 15-minute time block, but the lesson length is individually tailored to each student.
There is not a set number of lessons. Students are in lessons until they master the skills, and this takes approximately 5-7 weeks, depending on the child’s developmental stage and aquatic history.

Lesson Types and Skill Sets

Skills Before thrills

Initial Self-Rescue Skill Sets

6 months - Approximately 16 months
Babies at least 6 months AND sitting and rolling side to side independently through toddlers who are beginning to cruise will learn the safety skills of getting to their back from various positions, breathing, resting, and maintaining an independent float until help arrives.
Approximately 16 months - 24 months
Toddlers who are solid walkers will learn the skills needed to turn back toward and attain an edge. They will also learn to independently swim a short distance until they need air, roll to their back to breathe, rest, and float until help arrives.
Approximately 24 months - 6+ years
Older swimmers will learn to swim a short distance until they need air, roll to their back to breathe, rest, and float, then flip over to continue swimming. They can repeat this sequence until they reach an edge or footing in open water.
These physical skills will be combined with verbal discussion and education about water safety and making good choices in and around the water.

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Time for Thrills

Skill Maintenance and Advancement

Recommended about every 6 months. Lessons are daily and take approximately 2-3 weeks.
These lessons are needed for your child to learn more advanced skills as they grow physically and mentally or if your child has been out of lessons for an extended period of time, these skills can get rusty and need to be refreshed.
Regularly scheduled, 1-2 lessons, weekly or biweekly.
These lessons are the ideal choice to continually reinforce your child’s water safety skills and confidence. They give your child the opportunity to practice their current skill set.
Upon mastery of the Swim-Float-Swim sequence.
These lessons are individually tailored to each student and include more coordinated swimming movements, jumping in and swimming across the pool, beginning diving in and down to retrieve toys off the bottom, and advancement to swimming with a mask and snorkel.

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Meet Your Instructor

Lana Black, RN

I grew up in Florida and always loved being outdoors, in water, and working with children.

I have taught self-rescue swim lessons for 21 years, teaching well over 3,000 students.

I am currently a Senior Master Instructor and have trained over 30 instructors, providing continuing education, instructor development, and mentorship.

I am also a Pediatric ICU nurse. My experience includes 5 years in a pediatric cardiac ICU/congenital heart center.

My husband and I own a child-safe pool fencing business, which allows us to further the mission of childhood drowning prevention.

Although teaching children life-saving aquatic skills is my greatest passion, my greatest accomplishment is being a mom to my awesome 13-year-old daughter!