BAKERSFIELD, Ca -- A unique water survival course for infants is being offered for the first time in Bakersfield this summer.

Infant Swimming Resource, or I.S.R., was created in 1978 and has given children as young as 6 months old the training to try and stay afloat long enough until an adult can find them, ABC23 reported.

"No child is completely drown-proof, but I.S.R. gives infants the skills to survive," said Angela Champion, an I.S.R. instructor.

The program was developed by Dr. Harvey Barnett and has trained more than 153,000 children in the technique.

Program officials said there has never been a drowning involving an I.S.R. student. The program claims there have been 1,700 witnessed survivals and another 780 unwitnessed.

"It's amazing to see infants rolling on to their back and floating," says Champion. "They definitely have the skills and capability to learn that."

If and when you can get past the initial crying as a parent, lessons last just 10 minutes a day in the water. Instructors monitor the child's body temperature and progress very closely.

Even with the training and success rate, Champion said I.S.R. is by no means fool-proof.

"I.S.R. is another line of defense for a child to survive a potential drowning accident," said Champion. "There should always be a fence, alarm and an adult monitoring children in the pool at all times."

Champion is coming to Bakersfield this summer to teach I.S.R. on a limited basis.

You can log on to www.swimisr.com and click on her name for more information.