Life Skill: Swimming - It’s Never too Late to Learn
by Stacey Coles
For Anne Arundel County Firefighter Brian Holtslander, it’s “exasperating” how close drowning victims typically are to the search area, but how difficult it still can be to find them. He remembers the night a tide washed up a victim’s body in the area emergency personnel had been searching since that afternoon. It was a child with special needs who had gone off a pier that afternoon. The scream of the victim’s sister upon the recovery still lingers in Brian’s mind. “Drownings…are some of the, you know, most tragic things, you know, to be a part of,” Brian explained. “You know you give 100%, but you know sometimes the circumstances are going to be beyond your control. But learning to swim is something that's absolutely within the control of everyone [with access].” The Anne Arundel County Fire Department told Annapolis Moms Media that between January 2024 to May 2025, it responded to 10 drowning-related calls, with one fatality. Anne Arundel County has the most shoreline in Maryland, so it’s no surprise that a lot of activities and good times take place around water, especially in the summer. This makes swimming an even more critical skill for residents, especially for children and young males who are often the victims. It’s never too late to learn how to swim. If you’re the hesitant one in your family, taking adult beginner lessons can set an empowering example for your child and boost your own water confidence at the same time. Here are three things to consider if you’re hesitant: 1. Knowing how to swim equips you to be self- sufficient and a lifeline for others Swimming is a vital life skill that can prevent tragedy. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and it often happens silently and within seconds. Teaching your child to swim gives them the tools to stay calm and survive in an emergency. But the responsibility doesn’t stop with them. As a parent, knowing how to swim yourself means you’re better prepared to protect your family around pools, lakes, or beaches. It also sets a powerful example: water safety is for everyone. Whether you're guiding your toddler in the shallow end or watching over older kids, your own swimming ability adds another layer of security. 2. An Experienced Instructor is Key to Success Not every swim class is created equal, especially for beginners or nervous swimmers. The right instructor
will take time to build trust, move at your child’s pace, and make the experience positive and fun. Look for lessons led by certified swim professionals focused on water safety and emotional comfort. A patient, experienced instructor can ease fears, correct poor habits, and help your child (or you) feel proud of every step forward. 3. Controlled Exposure Improves Comfort and Confidence It’s okay if you or your child are naturally nervous around water. The key is slow, steady exposure in a safe environment. Start with shallow water and gradually increase to more challenging depths. But remember to celebrate those small wins along the way. As comfort grows, so will skills. With each positive experience—whether it’s blowing bubbles or floating on your back— swimming ability, resilience, and self-trust are being built. And while you’re upping your swim game, so are our county’s firefighters. Thanks to an expansion of county policy, first responders can now enter the water to attempt a rescue or serve as a marker for drowning victims until dive professionals arrive. As a result of this change, the county has rolled out a rescue swimmer class to train emergency responders. Paul Rakowski is a part of the county’s Special Operations Unit and is one of the teachers for the course. For locals, he warns against swimming alone and recommends that families use life vests when participating in local recreational activities, noting that signs of drowning aren’t as obvious as what we see in films. “There's a lot of videos online of just at the the local pool, the community pool where the kid slides in the water, does a little bit of splashing. Everyone thinks they're playing. And next thing you know, the head goes back and then underwater,” he explained. “It's a very passive event, so you need to have eyes on kids, especially the younger they are because they happen like that.“ Whether you’re signing your child up for swim lessons or brushing up on your own skills, water safety starts at home—and it starts now. With local emergency responders stepping up their training to better protect our community, it’s the perfect time for families to do the same. Because when it comes to drowning, every second matters and being prepared can mean the difference between a close call and a tragic loss.
20 | THE MOTHERLODE
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