Lotta D. Todd launches online course to help adults overcome fear of water

By AI, Created 5:28 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Arizona swim educator Lotta D. Todd has launched a self-paced online course aimed at helping adults and families build water confidence before summer. The program uses home-based exercises and breath-control training to prepare people for swim lessons or safe practice in shallow water.

Why it matters: - Fear of water keeps many adults from enjoying pools and beaches and can affect safety and quality of life. - Arizona treats drowning prevention and water safety awareness as public health priorities because pools are part of everyday life. - The course is designed to lower barriers such as cost, location and anxiety around traditional swim instruction.

What happened: - Lotta D. Todd, founder of Splash Rite Swim School and the Splash Rite Foundation, launched Building Water Comfort – Online. - The self-paced course is meant to help adults and families build confidence in the water from home. - Todd is a veteran water safety and swim educator based in Arizona. - Todd has more than 25 years of experience and has taught more than 3,500 students through learn-to-swim and water safety programs.

The details: - The program centers on the Home-to-Pool Path, which starts with what Todd calls “Step 0” of swimming: breath control and relaxation. - Students begin with a home practice setup that uses everyday household items such as bowls and cups. - The early lessons focus on breathing, breath control, breath-holding and submersion skills before any pool work. - The course includes a Home Practice Station, Breath Awareness Training, Relaxation Exercises, Family Water Safety and a one-on-one consultation. - The course is positioned as a first step before traditional swim lessons or before practicing independently in a shallow pool.

Between the lines: - Todd’s pitch is that fear, not ability, often keeps adults from learning to swim. - Todd said she has worked with people who avoided pools for years, including around their own families. - Todd also said learning to control breathing and relax changes how people approach water. - Her own experience overcoming a lifelong fear of water shapes the course design.

What’s next: - Todd wants adults and families to start building water comfort before stepping into the pool this swim season. - The course is intended to serve as an accessible entry point for people who are not ready for in-person lessons. - More information is available from Splash Rite Swim School or by calling +1 623-251-7858.

The bottom line: - The new course tries to make water safety feel less intimidating by starting at home, not at the pool.