Learn to Swim, Save a Life By Adrianna Donat

Classes teach everyone water safety

At local pools, swimming isn’t just a summertime activity – it’s a life-saving skill. Knowing how to swim can mean the difference between life and death.

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4, and the second for kids ages 5 to 14. In 2024, Maplewood’s pool staff introduced an enhanced learn-to-swim curriculum.

Maplewood’s Director of Community Services, Melissa Mancuso, says, “We remind all new swimmers that the water doesn’t know how old you are … Ponds, lakes, and pools are all potentially dangerous without proper supervision and buddy systems.”

“Our team is truly changing lives – one swim lesson at a time,” says Mancuso.

And the results speak for themselves: the pool’s dedicated team delivered 509 swim lessons this past season to students ages 3 to 83.

“As both a parent and an aquatics professional, I love the quote: ‘If your child is in the water, you should be too!’ Helping adults overcome fear of water sets a powerful example for children,” Mancuso says.

The adult novice swim classes, taught by Ellis Peters and a stellar support team, have consistently sold out. The program was expanded this summer to meet the need.

One grateful parent wrote to the Maplewood Pool, “James, Fin, Ellis, and all the instructors were amazing and deserve extra recognition. Our family is very grateful for all they do all summer long!”

Swim lessons are open to all Maplewood residents. Financial assistance is available. Visit maplewoodcommunitypools.org to learn more. For South Orange residents, visit southorange.org/475/Pool.

To honor their extraordinary work, the Maplewood Pool's Learn to Swim staff were treated to a surprise recognition event at the end of the 2024 season.

But public pools aren’t the only places focused on swim safety.

Robert Stapf, owner of our local British Swim School franchise, wants to change the statistics, too. “People think drowning is loud, that they’ll hear splashing and screaming. But it’s not. Drowning is silent. A child can slip beneath the water in seconds, even with adults nearby.”

Stapf runs his swim school out of Winchester Gardens in Maplewood. He opened the location because he believed in the school’s mission: to teach water survival skills first, formal strokes second. The program was founded in 1981 by British national swimmer Rita Goldberg, who created a method focused on body control, safety, and confidence, starting in infancy.

Stapf recommends beginning lessons as early as 3 months old. “Once your child can move on their own, there’s a risk. We teach them how to float, how to get to the edge of the pool. It’s not just about learning to swim – it’s about knowing how to survive.”

He also cautions against relying on flotation devices such as water wings. “Floaties give kids a false sense of security. They can slip off, and they prevent children from understanding how their bodies really move in water.”

One parent enrolled both her children – a cautious 3-year-old and an equally nervous 5-year-old – after a frightening near-drowning on vaca­tion. “Within two months of going once a week, their instructor helped my youngest build confidence and begin floating and swimming inde­pendently.”

At British Swim School, students learn survival skills first, such as floating and getting to the edge of the pool.

British Swim School classes are small, with a maximum of four stu­dents per instructor. Instructors un­derstand that many kids are scared of the water, so they approach each lesson with patience, joy, and trust-building. “Sometimes the first 30 minutes are just about having fun,” says Stapf. “It’s all about earning that trust.”

Lessons also include real-world scenarios, such as fully clothed swim sessions. “A kid who falls into a pool isn’t going to be wearing a swimsuit. They’ll be in sneakers and jeans. We teach them what that feels like and how to respond.”

Stapf is also passionate about equipping parents with the tools to keep kids safe:

• Put your phone down. “You won’t hear your child go under. Be present.”

• Designate a water watcher. “In backyard pools, someone needs to be the eyes-on-the-water adult. Give them a token or lan­yard so it’s clear who it is – and make sure they pass it off if they leave.”

• Throw, don’t go. “If someone is struggling in the water, don’t jump in unless you’re trained. Panic can pull rescuers under. Always throw something that floats.”

Local lifeguard Aidan Sheridan emphasizes the role of attentive parenting while near water. “Wa­ter safety for children is certainly important,” says Sheridan. “I would suggest parents never leave their children un­attended and stay fo­cused on their children in the water. Addition­ally, they should not let themselves be too distracted.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by many instructors and safety professionals: vigilance saves lives.

Stapf has story after story of children who’ve saved themselves – or even others – because of what they learned. One grandparent told him their 3-year-old slipped into a pool unnoticed. Thanks to British Swim School, the child flipped onto their back, floated to the edge and climbed out on their own. Another mother shared how her 6-year-old pulled a toddler sibling to safety af­ter seeing them fall in.

“We can’t put a number on how many lives have been saved,” Stapf says. “But we know it’s more than one.”

Whether you’re at a public pool, on vacation, or in your own backyard, teaching your child to float could give them more than confidence. It could give them a second chance.

After all, summer fun should come with peace of mind.

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Adrianna Donat wrote from dry land with a deep respect for what water can do.