Childhood Drowning Prevention Gets Funding Boost In Southwest RivCo

FRENCH VALLEY, CA — Funding is coming to Southwest Riverside County that will finance specialized training for swim instructors and increase the number of swim lesson scholarships for young children in the region.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors recently allocated $60,000 in Community Improvement Designation funds to increase water safety in the Third District. Under redistricting, the Third District will cover the cities of Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula, and Wildomar as well as the unincorporated communities of Aguanga, Anza Valley, East Hemet, French Valley, Green Acres, Homeland, Lake Riverside, Romoland, Sage, Winchester, and parts of Valle Vista.

The newly approved funding will finance specialized training for swim instructors and increase the number of swim lesson scholarships for young children, according to Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington.

The training certifies instructors to teach young children drowning prevention techniques. Children as young as 6 months old learn how to rotate in an underwater position up into a back-float so that they can breathe and call for help until it arrives. This prepares them to survive in the water if they accidentally fall into the pool. While adult supervision is mandatory at all times whenever young children are in or near water, these lessons increase children’s safety and prepares them to be better swimmers as they get older, according to the supervisor.

Survival swim lessons for infants and toddlers are currently available in French Valley through SoCal Water Babies, as funded by First 5 Riverside County Children and Families Commission and under the leadership of Executive Director Tammi Graham.

Drowning is the number one cause of death for children under 4 years of age and preventing these avoidable tragedies is a priority of the Commission.

"Having served on the Commission since 2015, I am a long-standing champion for these programs,” said Supervisor Chuck Washington. “Infant self-rescue lessons not only teach children to be safe around water, but it equips them with the tools to save themselves.”

SoCal Water Babies founder, Cathryn Van Der Linden, spoke about the opportunity
potential new instructors have thanks to this funding.

“I love being a survival swim instructor because I get to empower children and enrich their lives with confidence and competence around the water. There is truly nothing more rewarding than having a parent tell me how much these lessons have improved their family's quality of life by enhancing their enjoyment of summertime fun around the pool. During my career, many parents have expressed an interest in becoming an instructor, but the training is cost-prohibitive. This generous grant is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to own their own business while providing an invaluable service to the community,” Van Der Linden said.

SoCal Water Babies offers drowning prevention classes for children 6 months to 5 years old from March through November.

As additional instructors begin working in District 3, schedules and contact information will be promoted through Supervisor Washington’s Office as well as the First 5 Riverside County Children and Families Commission.