In wake of drownings, are fewer affordable swim classes in the Lehigh Valley putting children at risk?

Giggling and shivering in the cold pool water, 3-year-old Noah Baxter wrapped his arms around swim teacher Lisa Weitzman-Alford’s neck as she swung him in a slow circle.

“Speedboat, speedboat, go so slow,” Weitzman-Alford sang, increasing speed while instructing Noah to hold his arms straight in front of him. “Speedboat, speedboat, go so fast!”

Over the next 30 minutes, Noah and four other toddlers taking the “Learn to Swim” course recently at Allentown’s Mack Pool practiced floating on their backs, holding their breath and pulling themselves out of the pool ― all skills they’d need if they ever fell into water and there was no grown-up around to help.

“There really is no safe child in the water, just a more prepared child,” Weitzman-Alford said.

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