Originally published February 6 2009
Infants and Children Save Themselves from Drowning
by Patty Donovan
(NaturalNews) Every year, no matter where we are, we hear of infants and young children drowning in pools or other bodies of water. After witnessing the tragic aftermath of the death of a neighbor's child, Dr. Harvey Barnett has dedicated his life to preventing child drownings. He was only an 18 year old life guard at the time and vowed he would do everything possible to ensure no child drowned again. His program, called Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) successfully teaches infants and young children how to survive if accidentally submerged in a body of water. You can watch a video of his technique in action here: http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index...
He began by teaching the young children in his neighborhood to swim. Barnett carefully observed how they responded to instructions, how quickly they learned certain techniques and what types of communication were most effective. Using miles of Super 8 film that he took, he began developing a program that could be used even on infants that were not yet verbal. This was the beginning of the Infant Swimming Resource's proven system. It is designed to teach babies and young children from 6 months to 6 years old to swim, to literally save themselves in an accidental water encounter.
Combining his PhD in behavioral psychology with 41 years experience teaching young children how to survive in water, Dr. Barnett developed a standardized drowning prevention program that has earned a 100% safety record. ISR is well grounded in health care, psychology/behavioral sciences and anatomy and physiology. ISR has taught water self-rescue skills to more than 177,224 babies and their parents. Dr. Barnett and his instructors also educate medical experts nationwide on these techniques. ISR has 788 documented cases of children using ISR techniques to save themselves from drowning.
The video features then 11 month old Miles, who had had 3 weeks of ISR lessons. It was scripted and shot as part of the Pediatric Grand Rounds presentations Dr. Barnett uses at major children's hospitals throughout the United States to educate the health care professionals as part of their continuing medical education. Although the video was edited, the full educational video for medical professionals includes much more, such as a full 5 minute float. Physicians know the chance of reviving a child who has been without air for that long is remote. Dr. Barnett used the float segment to show that a child, even an infant could survive for that long using his techniques. At 4 years old, Miles is now an accomplished swimmer and snorkeler.
For more information, stories and how to find an instructor near you please go to: http://www.infantswim.com/home.html
About the author
Patty Donovan was in a wheelchair and could only walk around her house with a cane. She was on over 20 medications. When told to "take the morphine, get in the wheelchair and learn to live with it" by a neurosurgeon, she knew her life had to change. She is now almost a fanatic when it comes to healing through the use of "whole foods" and and natural remedies. Since that time, she has spent countless hours researching nutrtion and alternative health. After spending 30 years in the allopathic health care industry in both pharmacy and as an RN, she brings a unique perspective to Natural News readers. Since committing to this new life style, she no longer uses even a cane, has gotten off over 20 medications, lost over 50lbs and returned to work.
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