A Gilbert resident wants to help local residents protect their children from drowning, with multiple new franchise openings.
British Swim School, an educational swimming franchise with 215 schools across the U.S. and Canada, will expand its portfolio as a local Phoenix entrepreneur plans to open a further two units.
Gilbert resident Dejan Simurdic will open the two new schools to help parents in the area teach their children, as young as three months old, swimming strokes and water survival skills.
The new openings were partially brought on by a desire to combat infant drowning, as this is one of the leading causes of death for children under four in Arizona. Across the entire United States, drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death among children aged 14 or younger. Unfortunately, 77 per cent of drowning deaths involve children under the age of five.
“Drowning can happen in a few seconds, so teaching kids the necessary swimming strokes and water survival skills are critical to saving their lives,” said Dejan Simurdic. “Opening two new British Swim Schools in the East Valley area will give more parents the opportunity to teach their children the water survival skills they need.”
British Swim School teaches water safety and survival first, and swimming skill development second. Students are placed in classes based on skill level, with specific objectives. The brand was founded in 1981, and in early 2019, was acquired by Buzz Franchise Brands.
Research has shown that by participating in formal swim programs like those on offer at British Swim School, the risk of drowning among children can be reduced by 88 per cent.
IMAGE: British Swim School
