REDMOND, Wash. - Every year, roughly 25 children in Washington State die from drowning.

But a little-known swimming class in the Seattle area claims it can prevent these deaths by teaching even the youngest children to rescue themselves. Called Infant Swimming Resource, the program is designed for babies as young as 6 months old.

The babies cry, they struggle and they don't seem to enjoy it very much. But the instructor insists, when it's all over, they may be able to save their own lives in an emergency.

Inside the Redmond pool, 12-month-old Sami, who is barely old enough to walk, took the classes recently. It's unnerving to watch - an infant, gulping for air, struggling for the surface. But the infant doesn't go under.

"The philosophy of the program is to prevent drowning," said Anna Patterson, master instructor.

KING

Anna Patterson's little-known program focuses on a child's ability to self-rescue.

Her little-known program focuses on a child's ability to self-rescue. Through repetition, instructors teach infants to roll on their backs and float – eventually calling out for help. Success requires resolve. Class is five days a week and there are lots of tears.

"Crying is their primary means of communication," Patterson said.

Even though Sami seems decidedly unhappy, his parents say he's making clear progress.

"You just want to have him as prepared as possible, so you're willing to live with having him cry - he cries all the time anyway, so it's okay," said Marwan Dalle, Sami's father.

Patterson says, because the training utilizes gross motor skills, the lessons are lasting.

"They're going to retain it, the way they're going to retain the ability to crawl or walk," she said.

But an expert on drowning isn't convinced.

"It's a fine idea to teach your child motor skills," said Dr. Linda Quan. "It's not a fine idea to rely on them."

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The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend any swim lessons for kids until after their fourth birthday.

Quan says it's unreasonable to expect that infants can be capable of saving themselves.

The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend any swim lessons for kids until after their fourth birthday, when they're developmentally ready. If they do take classes earlier in life, Quan says it should be for fun only.

"The real danger of enrolling your child in these classes is getting that false sense of security that your child is now safe," she said. "No child is drown-proof."

Leah Keogh also knows about drowning, but in her case, she learned through terrible loss.

"My aunt lost her 18-month-old in a drowning accident, so it really just touched home," she said.

It's why she believes so strongly in Infant Swimming Resource for her own son. When 15-month-old Finn is flipped into a pool, fully-clothed, he floats to the surface, face up, within seconds. For his mom, the skill speaks for itself.

"It's life-saving for children," she said.

Patterson stresses that the teaching the technique should not be attempted at home. She says certified instructors go through extensive training.

Right now, she's the only instructor in Washington state. The class has been around other parts of the country for about 40 years and claims to have documented 784 cases of children using the techniques to save themselves from drowning.