OREM — Pam Hartley hates "floaties."
In her opinion — and she's been a swim teacher for more than a decade — the only way in insure a child's safety in the water is to be vigilant.
It also helps to have taught the child to respect the water.
"I love the water," said Hartley. "It's so consistent."
The consistency makes it possible to learn to swim and float well in water, but it also means the water is unforgiving if one doesn't know to kick and breathe at the right times.
That's part of what ChildSafe Swimming is about.
Gary Brown had never heard of ChildSafe Swimming before he noticed the sign on his neighbor's garage.
But after he tried to enroll his children in Orem's public swim lessons and found them full, he decided to try the private lessons based on a national program.
Now he's an avid fan. His 11-year-old son Ethan is passing off all of the strokes he needs for his Boy Scout swimming merit badge, and his 5-year-old son Jonah is diving off the diving board.
"It's been really great," Brown said. "They got so much more confident and I got so much more relaxed!"
"I heard about this through a friend," said Abby Anderson. "I notice a difference when we swim with friends and cousins. My kids know their boundaries."
The Andersons have been coming to Hartley for three years since Zeke was 10 months old. Now Zeke is 6 and his little brother Garrison is 3.
Garrison cried through his first two weeks of lessons. (Now he can't wait for his turn in the water.)
That's because part of what Hartley is teaching her students is that water must be respected. She matter-of-factly dips a child under the water until he or she learns to close his mouth and hold his breath.
She teaches children as young as a few months old to respect the water and deal with it safely.
"We're teaching them to be aware of themselves, aware of their world," said Hartley, who has taught hundreds of children through the past 11 summers. "It works."
"My daughter was referred to Pam," said LeeAnne Giessing of Lehi. Her granddaughter Tycee, 6, has learned to float and breathe correctly as she swims.
"She wasn't fearful before but really didn't enjoy the water," said Giessing.
Giessing said Tycee's mother is planning on signing herself up for lessons as well as the family's new baby.
Giessing thinks the price and the drive to Orem is well worth it. "This is amazing. The one-on-one is wonderful."
Brown said his sons could swim all right in the pool, but he wanted them to be at ease in lakes and in the ocean. He also wanted them to learn quickly.
"I was looking for something accelerated," he said. "Ethan could swim competently. I just knew with a little more instruction, he could swim confidently and enjoy it more."
ChildSafe Swimming lessons are taught in three-week, 10-minute, daily segments for $147.
"It's so valuable. It's so dramatic (to see what they learn). It's so empowering and I've noticed their confidence transfers into other areas of their lives as well," said Hartley.
With babies, Hartley is focused on making sure they know how to save themselves and get out of a pool of water.
With older children and adults, she's building skills.
"Yesterday, Pam had Tycee swim with clothes on," said Giessing. "I think that's a good idea. She won't panic if she should fall in fully clothed."
"Pam really has a way," said Zak Anderson.
"She brings a lifetime of experience with her," said Gary Brown. "Her vocabulary is excellent. She chooses her words carefully. She's very succinct, and the kids can relate to what she says."
"We went shopping the other day and somebody noticed the smiley face stamp on Tycee's hand," said Giessing. "She said, 'Oh, look, she must take lessons from Pam!"'
"I'm going to get myself into lessons. I have a history of fearful moms and grandma. I'm going to change that," said Abby Anderson.
If you want to take ChildSafe lessons:
Who: Pam Hartley and Pam Young
Phone: 226-6767 and 225-5753
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com