Columbus Swim Rescue

Columbus Swim Rescue 2024 Newsletter


How is it that 2023 has come to an end? Thank you, Columbus, for allowing me to teach your children for the past 8 swim seasons. I am so beyond thankful for your trust and very sad to say that I will no longer be traveling to Ohio to teach lessons. When I moved away from Ohio, 4 years ago, I never imagined I would have been able to keep coming home to Ohio to teach. I’m so thankful for all your support of my career and for all the wonderful years I have had in Ohio! You all have been a blessing to my life!

As 2024 is approaching, I want to be sure you have the contacts for the instructors in the area that will be able to help you start your ISR journey or continue your ISR journey. These instructors are amazing ladies and will love your kiddos while teaching the amazing life saving skills.

Local to central Columbus are:
Sarah Berlin: [email protected]
Britney Smith: [email protected]
Cynthia Vazquez: [email protected]
You can also use www.infantswim.com/locator (http://www.infantswim.com/locator) or www.midohioisr.com (http://www.midohioisr.com/) to find a local instructor to your area!

Please be sure to email these instructors to get on their notification list so you can keep up with their upcoming sessions.

I will miss Ohio and all of the families that have trusted me over the years. You all mean so much to me and I will love OHIO forever! I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Blessed New Year!

Warm regards and lots of love,

Miss Jen

Day 20 - the holidays are just around the corner and with that comes family gathers, lots and lots of fun activities and lots of people being around us. When large groups of people gather it is common to think - oh someone is watching the kids, they are fine.

This Holiday season I urge you to be aware of the water in your surroundings. Just because it’s cooler outside doesn’t mean that pond isn’t interesting or the hot tub doesn’t look like the best place to be.

Little ones are curious and 2/3s of drownings happen during non swim times. Keep an eye out for water and have a wonderful Holiday!!

Nobody provides constant eyes on supervision of their toddlers while they’re watching TV, sleeping, or building blocks. Every toddler breaks rules, tests limits, and explores.

Drowning remains the leading cause of death for kids 1-4.

A few trends:

Drowning often happens in residential pools at non-swim times.

The kids that wander to the water’s edge do not stop to think: “hey wait, let me get my floatie.”

Many, many of the children that reached the water alone did wear a floatation device for fun during swim times.

Loving, attentive, amazing parents lose their kids daily to drowning in this country.

We’ve never come across a family that thought this would ever happen to them.

Knowing and sharing this info is a start…

Remember, drowning happens to the family but it also happens to the kids.

Give kids skills, the same way you give them car seats. This is one more layer of protection that the child can take with them wherever they go.

Day 14 - one of the hardest lessons for anyone to teach is teaching a non fatal drowning victim how to swim. Each lessons has to be carefully curated to promote trust with myself and the student and the student with the water. It also takes so much compassion to listen to the families and help them navigate a new beginning in the water. Here is one of my families that received a Because of Logan scholarship, had to say about their experience! “Graham, 5, and Greyson, 11 months, started ISR with Jen in February 2023. I knew our experience would be unique as Graham had a non-fatal drowning accident in September 2022. Seeing our boys in water for the first time since Graham’s accident was overwhelming, yet peaceful. With Jen’s wisdom, patience and kind-heartedness I knew our sons were safe. Five days a week for six weeks can be a lot, but it was worth every minute -to see our sons safely play and swim in the water. What our sons have gained from Jen and the ISR program will last a lifetime and our family is forever thankful for Jen.” - Victoria Salais Thank you to Because of Logan for providing the scholarship and thank you Victoria Salais for trusting me with your kiddos!!