Miller Swim School shares life-saving swim skills during Water Safety Month

Every year in the United States, an estimated 4,000 children die from unintentional drowning. May is Water Safety Month, an annual awareness campaign aimed at educating people on how to stay safe in and around water.

Miller Swim School does that through swim lessons. Across its four Tulsa area locations, the swim school has lessons for all ages and skill levels, from infant and toddler to adult learn-to-swim programs.

S.A.F.E.R. Swimmer Promise

The S.A.F.E.R Swimmer Promise is a new program at Miller Swim School. Skylar Bowles, general manager at the Jenks location said, "The idea behind it is for them to be able to jump in the water, swim freestyle for a few feet, roll to their back and catch a breath, turn around, and get back to where they came from safely by swimming."

Kids ages 4 and up can start in the program and will learn 10 swim skills over 12 months before taking their water safety test. If a student does not pass the test within those 12 months, Miller Swim School will provide up to two months of free swim lessons. "Ultimately, our goal is to come together and help your kiddo succeed on their water safety journey," said Bowles.

Gaining Confidence in the Water

Bowles said the S.A.F.E.R. Swimmer Promise is about more than learning how to swim; it is also about gaining confidence in the water. "It is really cool to be able to watch their confidence grow while they are learning this skill and being able to do it by themselves," she continued saying, "Also, watching their parents get that confidence knowing their kid will be safe this summer."

1 in 4 children experience a close encounter around water, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children in the United States. Bowles said those statistics prove it is never too early to start swim lessons. "We do have a lot of open water here in Oklahoma," she said. "We have lakes, we have rivers, and drownings are more likely than you would think, so getting your kids in the water and teaching them how to be water safe is super important as soon as you possibly can."

Swim Lessons Near Me

Miller Swim School has four area locations: Jenks, Owasso, Tulsa, and Tulsa South. To sign up for the class nearest you, visit their website. On Saturday, May 17, the swim school is offering free open swim, water safety evaluations, and the chance to meet its swim instructors. The event is from 1-3 p.m. at the Jenks, Owasso, and Tulsa South locations and from 4-6 p.m. at the location on S Mingo Rd.

Other places in Tulsa that offer swim lessons are the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, Tulsa Lifeguard Pro, The Salvation Army, YWCA Tulsa, Health Zone at Saint Francis Health System, and Life Time.