Izzy’s Law raises safety for swimming students, eases moms’ minds
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Water can be good for the body, mind and soul, but also one of the most dangerous things to be in.
Hailey Etzel’s son Aiden just turned 5, and on the outside, he looks like your average fun-loving child who loves anything to do with water.
But Aiden is also on the spectrum, so going to a large swimming class wasn’t an option.
“Sometimes it means that his sense of danger is not as strong as it should be where other kids would be cautious about certain things, he doesn’t really know that there’s something he should be cautious about. So, that adds an extra layer of anxiety, which is kind of why I haven’t taken the plunge, but I haven’t really done that yet. I’ve been a little nervous to do it,” said Etzel.
One thing remains in the back of Etzel’s brain: 4-year-old Izzy Scott’s drowning.
“My biggest fear as a parent now knowing how quickly things can happen. It wouldn’t even take an instructor being negligent if they turn their head for two seconds. If my kid went under the water or something like that it happens very fast,” said Etzel.
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Izzy died in summer 2022 at on his second day of swimming lessons at a private pool in Burke County. His death broke many hearts across the CSRA and inspired Georgia legislation to strengthen safety within the then-largely unregulated field of private swimming lessons.
Izzy’s instructor, Lexie Tenhuisen was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. There were 10 kids in the class.
At the time Izzy died, his mom had to drop him off and leave.
When Izzy drowned, Georgia didn’t have any regulations about the ratio of students to teachers for private swimming lessons.
But now it does, thanks to Izzy’s Law.
Lisa Dawson with the Georgia Department of Public Health said: “We definitely want to help empower parents and families and caregivers to be prevention oriented. At the same time, help those kids get that incredible and important, lifesaving skill of learning how to swim.”
That means more instructors or smaller classes – which could be just what Aiden needs.
If instructors are going to have secondary supervision, a certified lifeguard must be ready to rescue.
And the law encourages parental involvement – much to Etzel’s relief.
Etzel said: “It’s a huge step in the right direction. It’s going to require a lot of vigilance on instructors’ part and active parents and stuff. But this is one step closer to making sure that there are adequate requirements in place that will add that extra layer of safety for the kids.”
The Georgia Department of Public Health says at the end of the day, this plan is in place for more supervision and less fear of water.
“Drowning is a different kind of injury mechanism. It’s quick and it’s silent. There’s just no coming back from it. So the vigilance around the water supervision eyeballs on the child all the time, not anyplace else is critical. it’s key,” said Dawson.
By April 1, every private instructor is required to have a safety swim plan in place.
Among other things, Izzy’s Law requires the Georgia Department of Public Health to develop a widely accessible and able safety plan for aquatic activities based on the standards for nationally accredited swim instructors.
Specifically, Izzy’s Law would require that each swim instructor has a safety plan including but not limited to:
- A necessary student-to-instructor ratio.
- Presence of a secondary supervisor to assist in the safety of all swimmers.
- Allowing all parents and guardians to be present at private swim lessons.
READ THE LAW:
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