OKC Metro Survival Swim School Owner Urges Importance Of Drowning Prevention

An Oklahoma City metro woman is raising awareness this morning after two toddlers drowned in a backyard pool earlier this month.

Megan Bachman is a mother of two and the founder of a swim school that teaches children survival skills in the water.

Bachman said the story of the twins who drowned hit close to home, but that she wants to talk about the realities of drowning prevention and how to protect children.

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"When children can walk, they are naturally drawn to water," Bachman said. "Drowning does not discriminate and it can happen to the most vigilant of parents." 

The Centers for Disease Control the leading cause of unintentional death in children under 5 is drowning, with 70% happening during non-swimming times. 

Bachman said lifejackets can bring a sense of false security because kids won't have them when they need them the most. 

"I was a lifeguard growing up and saw a lot of kids think they were safe with a life jacket," Bachman said. "They'd jump in and think they would pop back up and didn't." 

Bachman also said one of the best ways to prevent drownings is to teach children how to depend on themselves.

Formal swim training with strokes and techniques differ from survival swimming lessons, which have a focus on teaching critical safety skills that keep kids safe in the water, according to Bachman.

Bachman said she advises not just utilizing swim lessons, but by also having barriers around backyard pools, always having adult supervision and to know how to do CPR.