Swimming safety after young girl drowns in Colorado Springs hotel pool

Kids of all ages spend their day in the pool at Little Fins Swim School while moms stand by watching their kids learn. Angel Givler says she had both of her sons in the water at six- months-old. “He mostly loves it. He likes when he gets to actually swim, he’s not a big fan of floating. But my three-year-old loves it. He’s probably a better swimmer than I am,” Givler said. Givler knows first hand just how important swim lessons are after tragedy struck her family. “A couple of years ago, my two-year-old cousin actually fell into the pool at home and he didn’t survive. And he was only in for a short time and I think that if he would have had lessons he would have made it,” Givler said.

Swim school owner Laurie Armstrong says their main goal is to help kids become comfortable in the water. “Teaching them how to save themselves, teaching them how to be water safe. What that for us means, teaching them how to float,” Armstrong said. Armstrong said even with experienced swimmers, drowning can happen in a matter of seconds. B ut she says doing lessons and getting kids used to the water can lessen that chance. “A child or a baby may slip in the water and it happens so fast. If they inhale too much water, it can happen within 30 seconds,” Armstrong said. She said water is nothing to be afraid of, just to help your kids prepare and know how to swim.