British Swim School Splashes the Focus onto Learn to Swim Day

Child Water Safety Franchise Encourages Development of Swimming and
Survival Skills on May 21

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On average, 3,533 people die as a result of drowning each year and most
of those deaths are children under the age of four in backyard swimming
pools. The best way to prevent drownings is to help children develop
water survival skills first, and technical swimming skills second. With
May 21 serving as Learn to Swim Day, British
Swim School, the pioneer of a non-traditional infant water safety
program that provides gentle and fun teaching methods, is encouraging
parents to not be fearful of the water but instead to “jump in” and
equip children with the skills to safely enjoy water play opportunities.

The more confident and capable a child is around the water, the less
likelihood of any tragic incidents. However despite the best
preparation, accidents do still happen and it is vital that parents heed
the following tips leading into the warmer summer months:

1) Adult supervision: Appoint a designated watcher to monitor
children during social gatherings at or anywhere near pools. Always
maintain visual contact and use the buddy system when necessary.

2) Don’t depend on floaties or inflatable toys: Parents should be
fully aware that flotation devices are not a substitute for supervision.

3) Be prepared: Keep rescue equipment poolside. Don’t wait for
the paramedics to arrive because you will lose valuable lifesaving
seconds. Knowing CPR ahead of time can save lives!

4) Start them young: Teach children water safety and swimming
skills as early as possible so they have the best chance to survive a
water accident. Even babies can learn how to flip on their back.

5) Protect the pool space: Do not leave chairs or other items of
furniture where a child could use them to climb into a fenced pool area.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of parental supervision when
children are around the water,” said Rita Goldberg, CEO and Founder of
British Swim School. “All too common is the story of one parent thinking
that the other had eyes on the child. Our mission is not only to provide
quality and innovative water survival skills to children around the
country but also to teach parents and family members to be responsible
water watchers.”

At British Swim School, each child, regardless of age, is placed in
their correct skill level and will have certain achievable objectives
that must be reached before moving onto the next. The children learn
survival skills first and only when those skills are completely mastered
do they begin learning the swim strokes.

“We focus on survival skills before anything else because, in the end,
that’s what truly counts,” Goldberg continued. “We make the lessons
enjoyable for the children but still keep the focus on skills that could
save their life in the event of an emergency.”

In response to the growing demand for water safety incentives, British
Swim School launched a strong system-wide initiative in 2015 that
focuses on instilling a clearly responsible person around the water.
When a parent, child or family member is holding a Water Watcher card,
it is their duty to be diligently surveying the pool. The Water Watcher
not only gives children a sense of accountability, but it ensures that
someone has their eye on the water at all times.

British Swim School is the first and largest concept of its kind to have
created a unique water safety program with teaching methods that serve
as a trademark for the brand alone. Instructors are dedicated to
teaching water safety techniques in a gentle, fun, but highly successful
way. The franchise operates lessons out of multiple national fitness
chains and hotel pools year round and, based on the premise that
children progress at different rates, does not run on “set courses” but
rather on the level that best matches their comfort and ability in the
water.

About British Swim School

For 35 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water
survival skills to children as young as three months old. Rita Goldberg,
a former national swimmer in Britain, founded British Swim School in
1981 and developed the unique and highly effective teaching methods that
are a recognized trademark of the brand alone. Headquartered in Ft.
Lauderdale, Fla., British Swim School currently operates out of 83 pools
in 14 states in the U.S. and Turkey. Since first launching a franchise
program in October 2011, British Swim School has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s
Franchise 500, Top 50 New Franchises, and the Top 10 Types of
Franchises to Watch in 2015. British Swim School is aligned with
the Safer Water Safety Foundation, whose mission is to protect every
life from drowning through education and heightened water safety
awareness. For more information about British Swim School and the
franchise opportunities, visit www.britishswimschool.com
or www.franchise.britishswimschool.com, and
like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BritishSwimSchools.

Contacts

Fishman Public Relations
Alicia Ogierman, 847-945-1300 ext. 267
aogierman@fishmanpr.com