The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has thrown $60,000 from their Community Improvement Designation CID Funds into the pool to help ensure that the district's youngest don't become a statistic. The initiative will boost the number of available swim lesson scholarships and amp up the quality of swim instruction for tots.

This financial injection is set to skillfully teach instructors to teach water survival tactics to children, some only half a year old. These kids will be trained to flip onto their backs in an aquatic emergency and to both breathe and holler for help. This move augments their chances of outlasting potential disasters. According to a statement obtained by Riverside County, while keeping a vigilant eye on children is a non-negotiable must, these lessons are a sturdy life preserver of preparedness.

Drowning currently sits like an unwelcome guest atop the list of reasons children under the age of 4 meet an early demise. This is why the training matters, a point reinforced by the backing from the First 5 Riverside County Children and Families Commission, with Tammi Graham at its helm. Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington, a veteran on the Commission, shared with Riverside County, "Infant self-rescue lessons not only teach children to be safe around water, but it equips them with the tools to save themselves."

SoCal's founder, Cathryn Van Der Linden, expressed her enthusiasm about the grant dramatically lowering the cost barrier for those looking to become swim-instructors-cum-lifesavers. Van Der Linden relayed to Riverside County, "This generous grant is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to own their own business while providing an invaluable service to the community."

Survival swim lessons offered by SoCal Water Babies are accessible for younglings from 6 months to 5 years of age, typically between March and November. More details on schedules and contact information will be made available through Supervisor Washington's office and First 5 Riverside County (F5RC).