Infant Swim Rescue Program Available in Yuma this Fall

YUMA, Ariz. - The City of Yuma is partnering with Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) to help children across the Yuma region develop critical life-saving water skills. ISR teaches infants and young children survival techniques that help them float or reach safety if they enter the water unexpectedly.

Classes will be offered October 27 through December 12, 2025, at one of the City's pools. Lessons are held Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Each child and parent/guardian attends a 10-minute one-on-one session daily for six weeks.

Thanks to a partnership between the Prison Hill Liquid Foundation and the City's U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Pool Safely Grant, families will pay only a fraction of the typical ISR cost. A standard ISR lesson is valued at approximately $855, but families will pay just $205 per child ($100 deposit and $105 ISR registration).

Families enrolling multiple children will pay one deposit per family ($100) and a $105 ISR registration fee per child.

Participation is open to families throughout the Yuma region - you do not have to be a City of Yuma resident to enroll. Space is limited to 18 children and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with registration open now.

To register, parents should email ISR Instructor Kelly Sparks at [email protected] to reserve a spot and arrange payment.

ISR lessons are customized to each child's developmental level and taught one-on-one by certified instructors. Infants as young as six months old who can sit independently learn to hold their breath underwater, roll onto their backs, float safely, rest, and breathe until help arrives. Toddlers and young children up to age six learn to combine swimming and floating techniques to safely reach the side of the pool.

"ISR is the fastest, most effective way for children to safely learn confidence and competence in the water," shared Sparks.

A defining feature of ISR is its strong focus on safety. Before lessons begin, each child's medical history is carefully reviewed by medical professionals to identify any potential concerns about participation. Parents receive education on aquatic safety and drowning prevention and, toward the end of the program, may join their child in the water to practice skills together and reinforce safe habits.

"Water safety is a year-round concern for families in our community," said Recreation Manager AJ Mosqueda. "The ISR Program gives parents peace of mind by equipping even our youngest swimmers with life-saving skills, while also educating families on best practices around the water."

The Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance (GYWSA)-a regional coalition of local governments, health providers, and community partners-has identified expanding access to swim lessons and early water safety education as a top priority. Bringing ISR to Yuma reflects that ongoing commitment to reducing drowning risks and creating a safer, more water-aware community.

For more information, visit https://sparksswimisr.com/ or contact AJ Mosqueda at 928-373-5201.

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