Infant Swimming Resource: A partner of the Safe Start Program.


Philanthropy Magazine Article on Safe Start Program courtesy of PhilanthropyRoundtable
JCC Circle Summer 2006 Article on Safe Start Program courtesy of Jewish Community Center Association



Harvey Barnett at Comcast.



Coral Gables Fire Department and Safe Start team up to prevent drownings.



This is an example of forward thinking professionals in a community supporting the only comprehensive drowning prevention strategy that works to protect infants and young children ... and all those who love them.

YMCA Of Greater Miami Offers Pool Safety Program For Infants And Children

April 7, 2009 - Miami, FL - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children under the age of 15. Because statistics show that the majority of these accidents occur in residential pools, the YMCA of Greater Miami is launching a special program to help infants and children survive a fall into a swimming pool.

The YMCA has paired up with Safe Start USA to offer a six-week program the provides daily one-on-one sessions customized to each child. Infants from 6 to 12 months will learn to hold their breath underwater, roll onto their back and float unassisted. Children 1 to 4 years old will learn how to hold their breath underwater, swimming with their head down and eyes open, roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe, and roll back over to resume swimming until they can reach the side of the pool. Click HERE to read the full story.

On December 6, 2007 Safe Start USA was awarded the prestigious "PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD" by the Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center in Broward County, Florida. This was a critical step for our drowning prevention efforts in South Florida since Broward County leads the State of Florida in the number of children under 5 years of age. Click HERE to read more about this great honor.

On April 8, 2006 the 5,000th student in the Central Florida YMCA SAFE START program was recognized at a ceremony at the Lake Mary Family YMCA. Will Mancuso, shown here with his parents was presented with a certificate by Kristen Ambrose, SAFE START Program Director for the Central Florida YMCAs and Dr. Harvey Barnett.

Radio interview with Dr. Harvey Barnett courtesy of WLRN Topical Currents Radio Show of Miami.
Right click on PODCAST and "Save link as" to save the file for your iPod or computer.


Full page ads in local newspapers increase public awareness about drowning prevention for infants and young children and educate the public about the problem and the solution...