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The organization Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning wrote on its website on the topic of puddle jumpers, \"Toddlers do not have the cognitive capabilities to understand that they need the device to float in the pool. Thus, the problem occurs when the child is not wearing the puddle jumper. The child is now conditioned to believe that not only can they can swim alone in the pool, but they are supposed to do so in an upright position. Both of these are very dangerous. Most toddler drownings occur during a non-swim time when the child is in the care of one or both parents.\"

Michael Oostman, the President, Oostman Aquatic Safety Consulting, Inc. a company that is, according to its web site \"dedicated to the prevention of drowning and catastrophic aquatic injuries through education, mentoring, and forensic investigation services,\" says personal flotation devices are crucial. He has investigated more than 900 drownings in his career.

\"PHOTO:
Christi Brown
PHOTO: Christi Brown with her son, Judah.
>

\"Until a person is able to rescue themselves in the water there is a huge risk of major injury or fatality if they enter into a body of water without floatation device on,\" he told \"GMA.\" For that reason, he is a proponent of PFDs, puddle jumpers included, as one of many safeguards parents need to take to ensure safety of their children in the water.

But, Oostman said, with the habitual use of PFDs can come potential unintended consequences - the inability to practice and develop swimming skills. Until the ability to self rescue is in place, an adult should be within one arm length of a child in the water at all times.

Oostman also stressed the importance of swim lessons from early in life. \"And not just one session,\" he said, \"The lessons should be ongoing and as skills develop some of the redundant protective measures [like PFDs] can begin to be removed.\"

A spokesperson for Puddle Jumper Life Jackets wrote in an email to \"GMA,\" \"Puddle Jumper Life Jackets serve as a U.S. Coast Guard life jacket. Our life jackets go through rigorous in-water testing requirements to earn the U.S. Coast Guard safety certification.

\"Puddle Jumper®Life Jackets are designed to provide safety in any water situation (pools, lakes, beaches, and etc.), when properly used, helping to protect children learning to swim. We stand behind our products and promote teaching children proper swimming and floating techniques, even with the use of a Puddle Jumper Life Jacket. Children should always have active adult supervision when on, in or near the water, and the use of a Puddle Jumper® Life Jacket or any other flotation device should not replace swim survival lessons and water safety education.\"

The U.S. Coast Guard told \"GMA\" they while they do approve PFDs, including puddle jumpers, that \"meet a set of minimum construction, performance, and manufacturing requirements\" they do \"not evaluate or approve 'learn to swim' devices, swim aids, or other pool toys. PFDs only provide protection against drowning when they are worn.\"

The Judah Brown Project

What started as a way to raise money for hospital and funeral expenses by Judah's preschool teacher has grown in the last few years.

\"We wanted to do more,\" said Brown. \"I didn't want another family to go through this.\"

The first thing they came up with was a brochure to educate parents and caregivers about drowning prevention. It is now in 350 pediatricians' offices around the country.

Next, they started getting into schools to educate kids from preschool to elementary age about water safety. The Judah Brown Project now travels to seven school districts in the Houston, Texas, area.

Most recently, the organization offers low- and no-cost CPR lessons for parents and caregivers. They also offer scholarships to children for survival swim lessons, a type of swim lesson, of which Brown said she is a big proponent. \"It teaches you how to save yourself if you accidentally fall in the water,\" she said.

Her commitment to the Judah Brown project keeps her son's memory alive. \"I always say I get to carry his legacy with me,\" she said. \"I get to talk about him and say his name. It helps my heart and helps me continue to walk through each day.\"

And each time Brown sees a child learn to swim, she said knows his legacy lives on.

\"Every time I see a child that has gotten one of our scholarships floating and swimming I am always thinking of Judah. I say to him, 'this is what you're doing, baby boy. You're saving these little lives.'\"

Editor's note: This was originally published on July 15, 2020.

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