Certified ISR Instructor

Infant Self-Rescue with Veronica Kerst

Providing specialized ISR lessons at the Deep Six Dive Shop. Ensuring water safety and confidence for your child.

About Veronica

Thank you for your interest in the Infant Swimming Resource® (ISR) program.

I was raised on Long Island, New York, and married my husband in 1990. After I worked in the Dental field, we became foster parents for Suffolk County. Today, we are blessed with four children, three granddaughters, and a grandson.

In October 2001, we moved to Lakeland, Florida. On May 6, 2003, our lives changed forever when my 20-month-old daughter nearly drowned after accessing our pool in less than two minutes. Thanks to CPR training I received as a foster parent, immediate medical response, and God’s grace, my daughter survived.

While in the hospital, paramedics shared information about Infant Swimming Resource, as their own children had completed the program. As soon as my daughter was released, I enrolled her in ISR. Five weeks later, I watched her fall into a pool, roll onto her back, and float—able to save herself. In that moment, I knew I had found my purpose.

No family should ever experience the fear of finding a child in the water. Becoming an ISR instructor is not just a profession for me—it is a calling. I am deeply grateful to help give families the peace of mind I once prayed for.

In addition to teaching ISR, I have worked at Lakeland Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens since 2011, serve as a Guardian ad Litem in Polk County, and work with EF Education First placing summer exchange students.

Thank you for your time. For more information, please visit www.infantswim.com.

Swimcerely,
Veronica Kerst
📞 863-409-7221

FAQs

Why does it take an average of 6 weeks for my child to learn this?

The 6-week average is an estimate that is based on the average time in which it takes most children to learn these survival skills. Every child is unique and ISR’s Self- Rescue program is specifically designed based on your child’s individual strengths and needs. It is important to realize that this is an average which means that some children will actually finish more quickly while others will need more practice. ISR is dedicated to safety and, therefore, we want to provide your child with the time and best opportunity to become proficient in his/her survival skills. We will always honor your child’s needs.

What other benefits does the ISR lesson experience provide students?

Every child is unique. However, many parents report that once their young children have mastered learning to swim, the resulting confidence in their abilities engenders a positive self-concept that is often demonstrated in other aspects of their personalities. There are also obvious health and other psychological gains.

How is it that babies can learn to respond to the danger of water when they fall in?

A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation.

If more frequent but shorter lessons are better, then why don’t you teach 7 days/week?

Everyone needs a little break from learning to process the information and in this case to give muscles a chance to recover. In addition, you need to be able to spend time with your family, as does your instructor. Weekends are family time. Periodically, if weather or other issues have cause lessons to be canceled for numerous days, your instructor may choose to offer make-up lessons on a weekend. This is strictly up to the instructor and based on the availability of parents.

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