In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Lynette Porter, a certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor based in Boulder City. With drowning being the leading cause of accidental death for children under four, Lynette’s mission is more than just teaching kids to swim—it’s about providing them with the vital skills to self-rescue.

Lynette breaks down the science of the "Swim-Float-Swim" method and explains why even a six-month-old can be trained to save their own life. From the "Five Layers of Protection" to the unique "clothed" graduation lessons, this episode is a must-listen for any parent, grandparent, or pool owner looking to ensure a safe and fun summer season.

DISCUSSION

1. The ISR Method: Lynette explains the "Swim-Float-Swim" sequence and how she teaches infants as young as six months to roll back and float to find air.
   
   
2. A Commitment to Safety: Why lessons are 10 minutes long, five days a week, and how that consistency builds life-saving muscle memory.
   
   
3. The Five Layers of Protection: A deep dive into pool safety, including high locks, alarms, fences, self-rescue skills, and the importance of a designated "Water Watcher."
   
   
4. Inclusivity in the Water: How Lynette adapts her behavioral teaching techniques for children with special needs, including Autism and Down Syndrome.
   
   
5. Real-World Simulation: The "clothed" lesson—why Lynette has students practice falling into the pool in summer and winter gear to prepare them for real-life accidents.
   
   
6. From High Skies to Life-Saving: Lynette shares her fascinating background, from being an MGM Grand Air flight attendant for movie stars to serving as a paramedic in the Las Vegas Valley.

LEARN MORE

To learn more about Lynette's ISR sessions in Boulder City, Henderson, or her private lessons in Summerlin, you can reach out to Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Official Site at https://www.infantswim.com/

Boulder City Chamber of Commerce: https://www.bouldercitychamber.com/

KEYWORDS

Lynette Porter, ISR, Infant Swimming Resource, Water Safety, Drowning Prevention, Boulder City, Swim Lessons, Self-Rescue, The Best Dam Podcast, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce

#LynettePorter #ISR #InfantSwimmingResource #WaterSafety #DrowningPrevention #BoulderCity #SwimLessons #Self-Rescue #TheBestDamPodcast #BoulderCityChamberofCommerce 

Podcast Transcripts

Jill: We have a very special lady here today and I can't wait to get to know her a little better and very important information, especially as we come into this next spring summer season. But here in the Vegas area, this is important information year round. So I am excited to introduce you to Ms. Lynette Porter.

She is a certified infant swimming resource instructor with ISR Boulder City. Welcome Ms. Lynn. As the kids know you.

Lynette: Thank you, Jill. It's a pleasure to be here today.

Jill: We are so glad to hear from you and to learn more about this business, such an important tool and such an important resource, not only for parents to know and to have, but the little people to learn.

And so can you share a little bit about what it is that you do and who you teach?

Lynette: So I am a certified ISR instructor and I teach outta my home here in Boulder City. And what I teach is Skills for Children to Learn. To self rescue. So if they fall in that water, they know how to either roll back and float, which air is the most important thing.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Lynette: If a child's in that water, they need to be able to get their air. So if they know how to float, they can get that air. Saves them time so that they can get self rescued. The older kids will learn to swim, float, swim sequence where they'll get to the side of the pool or be able to get to the steps to get themselves out, which is a full swim, and then a float to rest and then swim again.

So I'm teaching children six months to five years old.

Jill: Oh, okay.

Lynette: How to self rescues in the water.  

Jill: Okay, so swim, float, swim. You just made that statement. older kids, you can teach them to go a little bit, flip over, take a little breather.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: And then flip back and swim a little bit more.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: Okay, great.

Lynette: So the children six months, we start at six months. As long as they're sitting up independently, they've got those abdominal muscles to be able to hold themselves and roll in that water.

Jill: Oh,

Lynette: and then to a year they're gonna learn the roll back to float.

Jill: Oh,

Lynette: And they just stay there and wait till someone comes and gets them.

And then the older kids a year, 12 months or 18 months are go to five years old, are gonna learn to swim, float, swim, sequel.

Jill: Interesting. How cool is that?

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: Yeah, I never really thought about that. And so then do you go, you just said you teach at your pool here in, in Boulder, but do you go to other people's homes?

Do they, can they hire you privately to come into their home and teach in their environment?

Lynette: Yes, absolutely. So I teach in the afternoons at my home here, right here in Boulder City. It's one-on-one. I only have one child in the water at a time.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: The 10 minutes are a little bit different because it's only the lessons are 10 minutes long.

Jill: Oh, okay.

Lynette: Five days a week.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: For six weeks.

Jill: Wow. That's a commitment

Lynette: They're skilled. It's a commitment, but it does go fast. It does go really fast.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: And then I also teach in Henderson at the Heritage Aquatic Pool.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: I rent a lane there, and then I do lessons there just in the winter.

So I start February 2nd.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: And I start a whole new session. And that those are my winter and the ninth. Nice part about that session. Those kids will be skilled before spring break,

Jill: right

Lynette: So if you're planning any pool, vacations or vacations that their kids are gonna be near water, they're gonna have that skill already set.

Jill: And those parents are gonna have a little bit more of a feeling of, okay, I, I think we've got this.

Lynette: Yes, yes

Jill: Wow. Security.

Lynette: And then I also do private lessons. So every morning in the spring to the fall, I drive to Summerland.

Jill: Oh.

Lynette: And I do private lessons for. People who hire me that come to their home and I do lessons there.

Jill: Okay, great. Okay, so that was my question is do they have to come all the way out to Boulder? 'cause I would imagine the Vegas Valley needs you.

Lynette: There are seven other ISR instructors in the Valley.

Jill: Oh really?

Lynette: Okay. Yeah, we're all independent. Consultants. So we run our own businesses.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: But we all work under the umbrella of ISR, so we have certain regulations that we have to follow and certain parameters and protocols that we follow for every child that comes in the water before they start to swim.

Jill: And that's the certified part of this?

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: Through them?

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: And what does ISR stand for?

Lynette: Infant swimming resource.

Jill: Huh. And it's an international or a national organization?

Lynette: It's international.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: Yes. So we go through training. Okay. six weeks training in the water and in a classroom setting. Where we learn the process of how to teach the kids.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: The sequences. And we learn, medical and we learn, diseasing process of children, what we're looking for in the water. And so it's a pretty intense, and then every year we have to do, CMEs and be recertified every year.

Jill: Wow. Oh man. That is so great to know.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: And I would imagine doing it one-on-one. 'cause kids all learn differently and so you'll have to learn different techniques for teaching at their level.

Lynette: Yes. So we teach on a behavioral process, so I evaluate the child medically first if they have any disabilities. Autism. Down Syndrome. I have a lot of, children who have, heart pal, palpitations, heart, have had things before they were born or once they were born that are medical that I need to watch.

Things like that in the water. So every child is evaluated and I adapt to what their learning process is. Especially the autistic children and how they are gonna react to the water and how they're gonna react to me. And I either slow it down or speed it up and teach them how to process on a behavioral level.

Jill: Do you note those kids with special needs such as that, do they calm down in the water?

Lynette: Oh, yes.

Jill: Oh yeah. I can. They do totally imagine that.

Lynette: Yeah. Depending on, S there's many different things. Some don't like to be touched around the neck. Or the head or the arm. So I have to adapt and make sure that they're learning appropriately for that child.

But most of them, most of the kids, once they learn the processes, start gaining that confidence in the water, they all relax and they all start to play and they enjoy it. Yeah. So much more that confidence builds.

Jill: And for so many of them, routine is really important. So I can imagine the same time every day. 10 minutes. It's a big deal.

Lynette: Yes. So we try to get that child before they're worn out. So that 10 minute lesson is so important because we wanna capture their attention.

Before we lose it. On every child. 10 minutes. That's it.

Jill: I can imagine.

Lynette: And then that repetition of Monday through Friday is what really helps the learning process.

Jill: I'm loving that. I just had no idea that so much goes into the thought process and then you don't think about being able to include. Every child.

Lynette: And every child is different. I cannot compare them. I cannot say they should be at this point, at this less this week, They and I just look at them and adapt and go and adapt it to each child.

Jill: Yeah. That's fascinating. I love that concept.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: Okay. loving that now parents have a little more security, they feel a little bit more confident. obviously we still need to take the same precautions by keeping the pool locked up, whether it's behind a fence or the doors locked, but those things happen, and it may not be within, the ability for the parent to think of everything.

And so now that the kids have these. these resources and the tools that they need to, For survival and then for the time to, that they need for a parent to rescue them. Do you have stories? I would imagine that after kids have gone through these programs, I would, do you have stories of success of, from parents that have taken the class or,

Lynette: Yes.

Yeah. So let's go back to those, protection layers. We talk about five layers of protection.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: We talk about doors being locked. to the pool area or to the backyard area we talked about. We talk about getting those locks up high so they can't get to them.

And we talk about alarms on the doors.

We talk about pool fences. It's very important to have a fence around your pool and have it obstacle free, meaning no chairs or no planters or anything. So those children can climb up over that fence. They're very resourceful,

Jill: Right

Lynette: And they'll. Get over that fence if they want to.

So we have to watch all that. Then we talk about having, ISR lessons or a self rescue style of lessons.

And then we talk about attention in the water. When your kids are in the water, you should be in the water with them within an arm's length away. we hand out, I hand out water watcher cards. So what that is the lanyard.

That people can wear if they're having multiple kids in the pool at the same time. you designate one person to be a water watcher,

Jill: Okay

Lynette: And that way there are people watching the water

Jill: Right

Lynette: At all times. and it's a 10 or 15 minute job, you turn it over to someone else after that. 'cause most of the time the accidents are happening when no, when everyone's there, but no one's really watching.

Jill: Isn't that crazy? So in our household. We talk about it before the party even starts. So there's always somebody that's been assigned that. And the, and before we even get there. Hey, this time I'm gonna let you guys get to visit, I'll hang out with the kids. And so they'll

Lynette: Perfect.

Jill: It's almost the thought process in advance.

I just wanna make sure somebody is designated.

Lynette: Yeah.

Jill: And they know that's their job and they're not changing that job.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: And of course, they'll get a break 'cause one of us will go help. But I can imagine that, that having that shift, that card concept, what a great idea.

Lynette: Yes. I can get you some, I can get any, anyone who wants 'em, I have 'em for free.

You can, I'll just get 'em to you.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: They're just a lanyard that says, I'm a water watcher. Don't talk to me. I'm not gonna be on my phone. I'm gonna watch the kids.

Jill: Wow. I love that. What a great concept and such a simple thing.

Lynette: Yes. Such a simple thing. Yeah.

Jill: Yeah.

Lynette:  Yeah. So those are the layers of protection that we want to keep in place.

And yes, I have lots of stories. I have lots of stories of parents that are, oh, I was out gardening and so just fell in the water and they turned over and floated and I just let them because that's what they were supposed to do, or, so most of my children or my parents that report to me that have gone through ISR, they're floating.

The parents will find them floating.

Jill: Floating.

Lynette: Yes. So that this is it, that, that's the lifesaving skill that we need for the statistics are. That are, children for and under number one cause of accidental death is drowning.

Jill: Oh, no.

Lynette: Second leading cause of death of children. Five to 14. Second cause is drowning.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: First cause is, car accidents.

Jill: Oh, that's so sad. Sad.

Lynette: So our statistics are very high. At least 4,000 a year in the United States, and that's almost 10 a day or very many

Jill: Car accidents we can't say are preventable. Because they're accidents.

Lynette: They're accidents.

Jill: But drownings really feel like there's the opportunity to really cut down on that.

Lynette: Yeah. That's what my job is all about.

Jill: Yeah.

Lynette: Prevention. Drowning prevention.

Jill: We are so glad that people like you exist.

Lynette: Thank you.

Jill: Yes.

Lynette: I love my job. I'm passionate about it. A lot of the times I'm there teaching the parents as long as well as their child in the water, so I'm talking about what they need, those five layers of protection, talking about how they can continue this in the water.

And, so I'm, educating the parents as well as

Jill: Well you said it continuing.

Lynette: Yes. 'cause those kids need to always be reminded every season they may not maybe be outta the water nine months. And so now it's time to think about that again.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: And remind those kids of what that looks like and how to do it.

Lynette: Yeah.

Jill: Yes, those parents need to learn that.

Lynette: Yes. Drowning is 12 months. 'cause it could happen at any time. So one thing that we do is pretty unique with ISR is we, before they graduate with me or they're done with their training, they come in the water in close.

Jill: Oh,

Lynette: So we bring them in fully clothed with shoes, clothes, diapers.

So they experience as if they were to fall in that water with clothing on that they know the feeling of the weight of the clothes being socked down with water or just the clothes alone. Some kids get very emotional if they get their clothes wet.

So they can have a little panic attack or 'cause they got their clothes wet or just the accident of falling in.

So we, we do summer clothes and then we do winter clothes. So we layer 'em up with winter clothes because, we teach all over so that, there are some kids that fall in the water with winter coats on In ponds, lakes, rivers, there's any type of body of water. So we want to teach them.

To be able to survive and know that it's okay if you fall in, you still do the same thing,

Jill: Right

Lynette: You turn and float,

Jill: Man, I love that. And would never have even thought about that.

Lynette: Yes. Yeah. So drowning can happen at any time, anywhere.

Jill: one of the questions I always ask is, have you had an aha moment within your business?

But it almost feels like these are aha moments. Everything you've said, I've had an aha moment. So I would imagine that, can you even think of anything that really stands out?

Lynette: I just get proud of my kids. Once they start, you see that? That they're turning, they're learning, and they turn over and I get proud of every single one of my kids that come in the water with me and we celebrate and we jump and we clap.

And the more. more clapping that they get from their parents.

Jill: Yes.

Lynette: Or the people on the sideline, they just get prouder and you can just see that in the water.

Jill: Oh, yeah.

Lynette: And they're, they get proud of themselves when they do it correctly.

Jill: Gosh dang. How?

Lynette: Yeah. So every day I went, and a lot of times I'll have parents on the side, they'll be like, are you still doing that?

Are you still helping them? I'm like, no, that's them. They're doing it all by themselves. And they're like, what? They're doing it all by themselves? I'm like, yes, they are. That's them. They're doing it.

Jill: It's hard to think of a little person like that. A little being,

Lynette: Yeah.

Jill: Having the knowledge or skillset to flip and, I don't know why we think of that being any different, but videos or films or whatever of infants that they throw in the water early on, and they just, their eyes are wide open and they're just doing their thing and you're thinking, man, I would've totally panicked as an adult because that's the learned behavior I have.

But their learned behavior is how to manage that. Wow. That is so cool.

Lynette: Yeah, and we always simulate a fall in is SR is not one that's gonna throw their baby into the water, so it's all a simulated fall.

Jill: Yeah.

Lynette: Yeah. It's all controlled and simulated. We do. There are copycat people out there that are throwing the babies in the water.

Please make sure your instructor is a certified ISR instructor.

Jill: What trauma that would be as an adult to throw their child in. I would, and as a mom, I would just be mortified. I would never do it.

Lynette: Right, right.

Jill: That sounds like a dad job.

Lynette: Oh yes. We do get the dads out there that are, once the kids are fully skilled.

Sort tossing them.

Jill: Okay. So you gave us a little bit of your schedule, but can you kinda walk it through for this coming year, what does your schedule look like? So people know how to plan ahead?

Lynette: So plan ahead. Now my schedule's filling up.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: So I start in February. I do have a couple spots left still if they wanna do a morning session at Heritage Pool, which is 12 minutes away from here.

Jill: And is that enclosed?

Lynette: Oh yes.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: Indoor heated, wonderful pool. Nice environment. Quiet in the mornings and,

Jill: Perfect.

Lynette: Yeah. And again, one-on-one.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: And then, I will start, In March, my, I have a four week refresher. So my kids that are already skilled already have taken the ISR

Jill: Oh.

Lynette: I want them to be ready for summer.

So they're gonna come back and do a four week refresher with me. Okay. It's Monday through Thursday, which is new for me this year. We're gonna do Monday through Thursday for the kids who are already skilled.

Jill: Okay?

Lynette: And, still same thing, 10 minutes. 10 minute day for that Monday through Thursday, and that way they're ready to go for summer.

They're ready to go for the pool.

Jill: And they've that confidence pool.

Lynette: They've got that confidence built back up.

Jill: Yeah.

Lynette: Yeah. And then I'll have two sessions here in Boulder City. And in the afternoons in starting in May and then all the way to from July to August. So I got, I set it up so that we're not in the water during 4th of July, so that vacation time.

We will be out of the water. and, those are in the afternoons.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: And then I do my morning still in Summerland every. Every morning.

Jill: Okay, so I had, I just had a question pop into my head. Okay. So I've got an older, adult child or a teenage child that has special needs and I worry about them around water.

Can you, obviously right now you're six months to five years, but do you have the ability to train or teach people with special needs? Maybe, maybe it is downs or whatever

Do you have the ability to work with an older person as well?

Lynette: I can. Yes, absolutely I can. Yeah, it's a little harder.

Sometimes when our process is, I'm picking up and placing the children in the right position for success, for turning.

And if they're a little bit older, it's a little bit harder to turn or place. but there's different techniques that I can do.

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: Absolutely, yes.

Jill: So is that an ISR thing?

Do they offer an additional programming for that?

Lynette: They do not.

Jill: Okay. Yeah. Interesting.

Lynette: Yeah. Ultimately we want to get them when they're younger,

Jill: Right

Lynette: Because especially, the affinity to water, they're going to be attracted to it more,

Jill: Right

Lynette: So we wanna get those skills in when they're younger.

Jill: Yeah, I absolutely agree. That's where we really wanna drill that home.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: I just wondered if that was something that, I know, parents of so many that have special needs children that

As a teen, as an adult, they're still somewhat of the same mental capacity of a two to 5-year-old, right?

Lynette: Correct. Correct.

Jill: And so I wonder if, safety for them is a, this would

Lynette: Definitely be the type of instruction, the way we teach. Behavioral sciences would be. Directed toward them. So yeah, we can, and my older kids that are five to six, I still have parents that bring them back and I'll start develop, theming them into stroke development.

Jill: Oh.

Lynette: So that they'll be doing more of a breast stroke, a freestyle or a backstroke. And I, my parents love that. And we can do that in a maintenance where they only come Twice a week or once a week and I can work on those strokes.

Jill: And

Lynette: Especially at Heritage Pool, I love that. 'cause I can have the full length of the pool and we can go clear down and learn.

I have many of my children that have gone on to, swim teams.

Jill: Oh wow. Cause they have that confidence so early on.

Lynette: Yeah. And that roll back to float teaches them that side turn so they can do freestyle super easy.

Jill: Oh yeah.

Lynette: So they turn that head to roll back to float.

Jill: Yeah.

Lynette: And now they can turn that head just to get a freestyle breath.

Jill: Wow. See another aha moment. Yes. I'm learning so much from you, Ms. Lynn. Thank you so much.

Lynette: Yes.

Jill: Okay. I'd love to learn a little bit more about the behind the scenes who made you, who, you are today. And so can you share with us what your first job was?

Lynette: First job of course was babysitting

Jill: Uhhuh.

Lynette: 'cause everyone just does that at, 11 or 12 years old. I grew up in Iowa. So just, had a great, relationship with my family and friends and neighbors and was doing, babysitting. And then of course you work at the mall. And then, I actually left Iowa and moved to California

Jill: Okay.

Lynette: And was a flight attendant for a very elite airline.

Jill: Wow.

Lynette: In, Los Angeles. Outside of Los Angeles. It was a semi-private airline. We flew. All only grand class people was MGM Grand Air.

Jill: Yeah. How fun is that?

Lynette: And it was very elite, very high-end movie stars directors. And I did that for seven years. And then,

Jill: I bet you have some stories : there.

Lynette: I have some great stories with that. And then I moved here, to Las Vegas after the airline. it was Kirk Kor's Airline, so he directed most of his money right into the hotels here. Gotcha. In Vegas. And, moved here and went back to school and I became a paramedic here in the Las Vegas Valley. So I have a lot of medical background, so that helps with ISR and it helps with, the daily.

Routines of the children, making sure that they're safe and they're not sick and they're safe in the water.

Jill: Because I would imagine if they were sick, that does, that impedes their ability to really learn.

Lynette: Correct. Yeah. We have a bud s a questionnaire every time before they get into the water.

If, how's their bowels? How's their urine? Have they eaten anything? Are they sick? Do they have a cough? things like that before they ever actually get into the water with us daily.

Jill: Very smart. Yeah, because think about all those little people, germs that you're around all the time.

Lynette: Correct? Correct.

It helps protect me and helps protect the other swimmers. Yeah. Yeah.

Jill: Ew. Yeah. Yucky. That was a yucky thought. I had not thought about. That's not an aha moment. That's a gross moment.

Lynette: So then, I have a very good friend, Gail Robinson, who is an ISR instructor here in Las Vegas. And she got me into, the ISR.

Jill: Oh wow.

Lynette: So she's you have to do this. You've got the background, you've got swimming knowledge, and

Jill: Thank you Gail, for making sure Boulder City had access to such a great resource.

I think that's awesome. Okay, so here's one of my favorite questions, and it's because I just, I enjoy reading, I enjoy learning.

So can you tell us what book you're reading right now?

Lynette: Okay, when I drive to Summerland last year, between March and, October, I drove over 14,000 miles. Crazy. I know. It's a hundred miles a day.

Jill: Oh man.

Lynette: I listened to audio books. Wow. So I love listening to audiobook. And so I have to say the one that I love the most was, have you seen Louise EZ?

by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Jill: And what genre is that?

Lynette: It's a little, I can't, I'm not sure, but it's just a heartfelt story.

Jill: Oh, okay.

Lynette: About, being kind.

Jill: Oh, wow.

Lynette: Being kind. Yeah.

Jill: So relationships

Lynette: It does. Yeah. Yes.

Jill: Oh, I love that. That's pretty, that sounds great. I'm gonna check her out.

Lynette: Yeah,

Jill: I was, interested. I have not heard of her or that book. And so when I read that I thought, man, I gotta find out what that's all about.

Lynette: Yeah. Yeah. I think you'd like it.

Jill: Very good.

Lynette: Yeah.

Jill: And I would imagine you need to have a kind heart to work with children, so that And patience.

Lynette: Yes, definitely.

Jill: That is awesome. And our final question is. What have you enjoyed or has there been something special about being a, an investor in the Chamber that has been advantageous to you?

Lynette: I just love to see the growth that you are doing here. just within the last few years you've just really upped it and really have highlighted the businesses and kept us informed and just really have so many fun events.

And just include all of us in, on all of 'em. And the education that you're putting out there for us as businesses to excel and be in contact with other businesses is just wonderful.

Jill: Thank you. We will keep doing that for you and, for all of the others and we're glad to be a part of that. We're glad to have you as an investor in this organization, and especially because you bring such an amazing skill set that more people need to know about.

So we need to communicate this even better.

So thank you so much for all that you do. Thanks for all your service to the youth for so long. And, I, cannot wait to start sharing this message and getting more of my young friends aware of what they should be doing, especially if they're, I, they're got an invitation to my pool. They should definitely already have been through an ISR program.

Lynette: I love it. Thank you.

Jill: Thank you. Have a super day.

Lynette: Thank you, Jill.