Hello!  My name is Michele (Haas) de Vahle.  I’m a native Floridian, I grew up on the East Coast of Florida in Satellite Beach and moved to Tampa in 1983 to go to USF.  After working for several years, I decided to devote my time to motherhood after my first son was born in 1994.
 

I learned about ISR after my older son fell off the bottom step at a neighbor’s pool and didn’t attempt to help himself back up.  Watching him underwater and not seeing him make any movement to come back to the surface for air was scary.  I began calling every swim program I could find in my area.  When I got a hold of Debbie Hammerberg (recently retired ISR Instructor), she told me that my son would swim, then float and then swim again surviving an aquatic incident.  I didn’t hesitate, I immediately signed up.  It was a 45-minute drive to lessons just one-way, but it was worth it to me!  During the next 6 weeks, I saw a complete transformation in my son’s swimming and floating abilities and his confidence in and around the water.
 

Since being certified, I have taught aquatic self-rescue skills to hundreds of children in the Tampa Bay area.  It’s the best feeling in the world to see a student roll back for the first time!  It’s been an honor to teach self-rescue swim lessons to children and I can’t thank my parents enough for entrusting me with their child. :)
 

Like all ISR Instructors, my goal remains the same today as the day I signed on ~~ to teach the next child self-rescue skills before they get to the water unattended.  When my schedule permits, I attend functions with other ISR Instructors or by myself, to spread the word about drowning prevention so that not one more baby drowns!  We attend baby expos, fundraisers, preschools or any group that will benefit learning about drowning prevention, water safety tips or educating the community about ISR self-rescue swim lessons.  If you know someone who could benefit from this information, contact an ISR Instructor by going to the Instructor Locator at www.infantswim.com.
 

A couple years ago, I became a Master Instructor, which means I am qualified to train new ISR Instructors.  If you would like to know more about the ISR Instructor training program or know someone who is considering it, please visit the website to learn more about this life saving program.  http://careers.infantswim.com.  I am always available to talk to anyone who is considering the training program as well.
 

If you have any questions, please email me or call me @ 813.546.3452.  Thank you.
 

Michele