Saturday, May 28, 2011

Register for summer session June 2-3 10:00am-6:00 pm 609 Main Street Woodward

On site registration for the June and July Learn to Swim Sessions will be held June 2-3rd from 10:00 am-6:00 pm at our Woodward location, 609 Main Street. Parents should be able to verify age of student as well as training levels in the past. Those who have taken from Star Fish Swimming Academy in the past will have records on site to verify swimming levels.

For more information about our seven levels of swimming please go to our website at
www.academyoffineartsok.com/starfishswimmingacademy .

Registration fee and tuition  is due at time of registration.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Activity or Life Skill?

For most part, the average parent believes that learning to swim is a great summer activity that can lead to being able to just drop the child off at the pool for the day. There are some that want their child to learn to swim because they never had a chance to take classes. And then there are those of us that believe that learning to swim is a life skill.

Why a life skill? Well, because if taught properly and with consistancy, what your child learns now in a Learn To Swim Class can actually help prevent a drowning for all of their life. But again only if they were in a class situation that teaches the child how to make good decisions around water and the aquatic environment. Learning just to swim a stroke or two is never enough.

According to the www.cdc.gov website drowning statistics," every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning is the sixth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages, and the second leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 years."

The site also states that "in 2007, there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) in the United States, averaging ten deaths per day. An additional 496 people died from drowning in boating-related incidents."

Other statistics listed are that 80% of drownings are male and that more than one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rate and for every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries

Those considered high risk for drowning are males, children ages 1 to 4 ,and minorities.

Factors that influence drownings include risk include:
Lack of Supervision and Barriers
Natual Water Settings (such as lakes, rivers, or the ocean).
Lack of Life Jacket Use in Recreational Boating.
Alcohol Use
Seizure Disorders (bath tubs, wading pools, etc)

What has research found out? The CDC site states that:


  • Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4 years.

  • Seconds count. CPR performed by bystanders has been shown to improve outcomes in drowning victims. The more quickly intervention occurs, the better change of improved outcomes.

  • A CDC study about self-reported swimming ability15 found that:

  •           Younger adults reported greater swimming ability than older adults.
              Self-reported ability increased with level of education.
             Among racial groups, African Americans reported the most limited swimming ability.
             Men of all ages, races, and educational levels consistently reported greater swimming ability
               than women.

    What are the best ways of preventing drowning? Steps towards this, listed on the site are:
            Supervision when in or around the Water
            Buddy System
            Seizure Disorder Safety
            Learn To Swim
            Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
            Do Not Use Air-Filled or Foam Toys
            Avoid Alcohol

    But we would like to add two more prevention methods:
           Be selective of where and who your child learns to swim from
           Select a program that understands and and teaches water safety in a manner that young children
             understand and will remember. Select a program that teaches water safety and right choices
              around water in every lesson and not just one.

    We believe it is an important life skill that children learn to swim. After all, most that drown never intended to get in the water.


    *CDC.gov  Unintentional Drowning Fact Sheet can be viewed at  http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html

    Wednesday, May 25, 2011

    Now Registering for June and July Sessions!

    Be sure to register soon for our June and July Sessions for the best Learn To Swim Program in the area!
    Visit our website for more information and online registration from the convenience of your home or office.

    Friday, May 20, 2011

    Star Fish Swimming Academy Now Registering For Summer Swimming Sessions in Woodward

    Registration for summer swimming sessions, offered twice in June and twice in July, is now being accepted. Pre-level classes for ages 2-5 years and Learn to Swim levels for 5 years and up are available. Also available is a Mom & Me toddler class.

    Star Fish Swimming Academy offers a leveled program designed for success. Each level  in the pre-levels is age appropriate and includes becoming comfortable in the water and the ability to turn face up and free float for several minutes. Safety lessons are included in each class.

    The Learn To Swim Level has seven different levels that progress through the proper skills needed to becomce a more than average skilled swimmer. From the beginner to the advanced level swimmer, students receive a high level of instruction in the mechanics of how to swim well. Every class during the session includes a safety lesson.

    " Swimming is a life skill" states Mary Myers, trainer/director at Star Fish Swimming Academy. "All children should learn to swim and parents need to realize that the skills they learn here could save their child's life, even as an adult." Drownings generally happen to those who never intend to enter the water, such as boaters and jet ski riders. They tend to feel safe as long as they are not in the water and have a vest on, but just one small accident can change the entire scenerio. According to drowning records, boys tend to drown more often tahn girls.

    "Water safety classes are vital to proper aquatic training and education" says Myers. " Even well trained swimmers drown if they do not make wise decisions. This is why our classes include a safety lesson and we also offer a Swim Safely Camp."

    Myers has been around water and water instruction all of her life. At a young age, her mother registered her for  Red Cross swimming lessons. Later she attend Red Coss swimming camp and certified as  a Water Safety Instructor Aide to assist with the classes. This eventually  continued to training as a Red Coss Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguarding Instructor, CPR and First Aide Instructor and eventually led her to training as a Red Cross Instructor Trainer. She also served on a state health and safety committee for the Oklahoma American Red Cross. Myers continued her aquatic training by becoming YMCA SCUBA certified and even helped to bring SCUBA classes to Woodward at one point. She has continued her aquatic training and association throught the American Learn To Swim Teachers Association as well as the United Sates Swimming Schools Association.

    Registration for classes is available on line for convenience from your home or office. Just visit the Star Fish Swimming Academy website for more information and registration. Calls for more information are also accepted at 580-256-3262.

    Students that have trained with Myers and Star Fish Swimming Academy before, are tracked on skills and can easily be placed in a class. Parents registering  their children are given a parent portal system log-in that allows the parent to see and track their child's progress. Morning, afternoon and evening classes are available.

    Thursday, May 19, 2011

    Learning To Swim At Young Age Study Points Out Advantages

    Study Shows Children That Learn To Swim At A
    Young Age Have Developmental Advantages

    An article that outlines preliminary results of a study at Griffith University in Queensland reveal that children who learn how to swim at a young age have physical, social, intellectual and language development advantages compared to the non-swimmers. For more information on this study, please go to http://topnews.co.uk/215868-swimming-fosters-children-s-development

    NOW REGISTERING FOR SWIMMING LESSONS FOR SUMMER 2011!
    Call580- 256-3262 for more information on classes in Woodward Ok or visit our website at
    www.academyoffineartsok.com/starfishswimmingacademy

    American Academy of Pediatrics Recommend Swimming Lessons

    On May 24, 2010 the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their policy for swimming lessons for children under
    four years of age. Their new recommendation is that children ages one through four years should participate in formal swimming instruction. They also state that all young children should learn to swim and studies are now showing that early water instruction can help a young child in dangeroues water situations. They also have some great guidlines listed for parents to know. You can access their information at aap.org

    Now Registering For Learn To Swim Program for Summer 2011!

    Why select Star Fish Swimming Academy in Woodward Ok for your child's swim classes? Because simply put, your child deserves a program that has been designed for success! The multi-level program and pre-program allows students to stay engaged in learning that is fun and progressive.

    At Star Fish Swimming Academy, there is a water safety lesson in every class! Even two year olds are taught about not going to the water without an adult and when they get into the water the first thing they do is free float face up! We know and advise that this is not a way of drown proofing your child, but a way of giving parents a few more seconds to get to them. The best prevention is always adult supervision.

    Classes are now registering for summer of 2011. Our classes are semi-private so that your child learns more and has more attention to their needs by the teachers. Call our office today for more information at 580-256-3262 or visit our website at www.academyoffineartsok.com/starfishswimmingacademy
    On site registration is available at 609 Main Street in Woodward Ok.

    Sunday, May 15, 2011

    Welcome to Flutterkicks!

    Welcome to FlutterKicks Blog! Here we plan to post current information regarding swimming classes and lessons for children and adults. We hope that the information is informative and useful in selecting instruction for your family. Be sure to check back often for breaking news and opinions!