RIVERVIEW, Fla. – When a 16‑month‑old son was found face‑down and not breathing in a backyard pool, Riverview mother and former paralegal Kari Bahour realized the urgent need for practical water‑safety education. The frightening incident sparked a mission that has grown into a community resource for families across the area.
From personal tragedy to public service
Bahour says the moment she saw her child lifeless in the water changed the trajectory of her life. “He was found in a pool… face down, unconscious and not breathing,” she recalled. “Just seeing your child completely lifeless, that changed the trajectory of my entire life.” The infant made a full recovery, but the experience left Bahour determined to prevent other families from facing the same heartbreak.
Watch Me Swim and Water Smart Tots Foundation
Leaving her career as a paralegal, Bahour founded Watch Me Swim, a program that teaches children basic survival‑swimming skills – how to float, roll over, and reach safety if they unexpectedly end up in water. “I didn’t know drowning was silent,” she explained. “Drowning does not discriminate. It happens to the best of parents.”
After four children drowned over Mother’s Day weekend in 2014, Bahour recognized that lessons alone would not reach every family in need. She therefore launched the Water Smart Tots Foundation, a nonprofit that uses community donations and grants to provide scholarships for families who cannot otherwise afford survival‑swim lessons.
Parents see the value
Local parent Amanda Myers enrolled her three children after learning about the program. “I wanted to make sure my kids were safe with so many lakes, and we own a pool,” Myers said. “It was a requirement for us to make sure that my kids would have the skills to survive and save themselves.” Her three‑year‑old son Colton and five‑year‑old daughter Peyton now spend ten minutes at a time in the pool, practicing techniques that could one day save their lives.
“Having three kids, I’m outnumbered all the time,” Myers added. “If they were to fall in, they know how to roll over, get to the edge and save themselves.” The family qualified for a scholarship, allowing the children to continue taking refresher lessons without the financial burden. “It is a very invaluable resource for families,” Myers said. “It helps keep them safe without having the financial burden of swim lessons.”
How the community can help
Bahour emphasizes that every child who learns to survive in the water is another opportunity to spare a family from the heartbreak she once experienced. The Water Smart Tots Foundation relies on donations, grants, and volunteer instructors to keep lessons free or low‑cost. Residents who wish to support the cause can contribute directly through the foundation’s website or volunteer as assistant instructors.
For families interested in enrolling their children, Watch Me Swim offers introductory sessions and ongoing classes throughout the Riverview area. Scholarships are awarded on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with priority given to families demonstrating financial need.
Looking ahead
Bahour hopes to expand the program’s reach beyond Riverview, partnering with schools, churches, and community centers across the state to embed water‑safety education into regular youth activities. “Our goal is to make sure every child who lives near water has the skills to survive,” she said. “When parents know their kids can protect themselves, the whole community becomes safer.”
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
