SwimSafer

Introduction to Water Skills

The objective is for your child to gain confidence and develop independence in the water, as well as learn general and deep-end water safety. Techniques taught include forward and backward movement, safe entry and exit, and introduction to personal water survival skills.

Entries & Exits

• Enter the water safely and confidently with slide-in entry and exit using ladder and from pool edge.

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Recover from a face down float or glide to a standing position.
• Recover from a back float or glide to a standing position

Underwater skills

• Submerge in waist depth water, open eyes and blow bubbles.

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

• Swim any stroke
• Forward movement 10m
• Backward movement 5m

Survival & Activity skills

• Support body in an upright position and signal distress.
• Grasp a floatation aid thrown for support and be pulled to safety
• Wearing clothing, correctly fit a PFD, jump into the water, float for 30 seconds and then climb out of deep water.

Knowledge

• Rules of behavior in, on or near the water, water safety knowledge at a swimming pool.

Fundamental Water Skills

General skills development will include unassisted step entry into water, sculling, feet-first surface dives, personal water safety skills and water safety awareness in an aquatic environment. Your child will be encouraged to achieve 25 meters of continuous swim.

Entries & Exits

• Perform a step-in entry

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Demonstrate sculling in an upright position for 10 seconds with arms only

Underwater skills

• Search for and recover an object in chest deep water depth

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

Swim 25m – any stroke

• Breaststroke
• Backstroke
• Survival backstroke

Survival & Activity skills

• Swim wearing clothing for 15m.
• Demonstrate flotation survival technique
• Correctly fit a PFD, jump into the water and swim for 5 meters and climb out of deep water.

Knowledge

• Water safety rules in various aquatic environments

Personal Water Survival and Stroke Development Skills

Principles of personal water survival and basic rescue skills will be tough. Your child will demonstrate proficiency in sculling, underwater skills, and the use of a Personal Flotation Device. Your child will be encouraged to achieve 50 meters of continuous swim.

Entries & Exits

• Enter water using a compact jump

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Demonstrate sculling in a horizontal position for 10 seconds with arms only.
• Demonstrate the ability to change direction on command.
• Demonstrate reverse action

Underwater skills

• In chest deep water swim through hoops on pool bottom 2 meters apart.

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

Swim 50m continuously

• 25m using either breaststroke or front crawl
• 25m using backstroke or survival backstroke

Survival & Activity skills

• Swim wearing clothing for 25m
• Demonstrate ability to correctly fit a PFD in the water

Rescue skills

• Throw a floatation aid to a partner at 3m distance and instruct to kick to the edge.
• Perform a reach rescue using a rigid aid and pull a partner to safety.

Knowledge

• Principles of personal survival

Personal Water Survival and Stroke Improvement Skills

Development of your child’s stroke technique will be a focus here, along with coordinated breathing in deep water while swimming 100 meters. Principles of water crafty safety will be introduced, as well as continuous work on rescue and personal water survival skills.

Entries & Exits

• Enter water using a compact jump

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Demonstrate a backward and forward somersault in the water

Underwater skills

• Search for and recover an object in 1.5m of water depth.
• Demonstrate a feet-first surface dive

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

Swim 100m continuously

• 25m Front crawl
• 25m Breaststroke
• 25m Backstroke
• 25m Survival Backstroke or Sidestroke

Survival & Activity skills

• Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt, demonstrate 3min swimming slowly using any appropriate swim stroke, changing every minute

Rescue skills

• Perform a throw rescue using an unweighted rope over a distance of 6m.
• Wade to a person and deliver a floatation aid in deep water.
• Approach in “Ready” position.

Knowledge

• Principles of water craft safety

Intermediate Personal Water Survival and Stroke Refinement Skills

Fundamentals of diving will be introduce. Development of rescue skills and personal water survival skills will also continue at more advanced levels. Your child will be required to demonstrate efficient stroke techniques to complete stage 5 before progressing to stage 6.

Entries & Exits

• Demonstrate a dive entry (crouching)

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Keep face above the water for 60 seconds sculling with hands only

Underwater skills

• In 1.5m of water depth swim through hoops on pool bottom 3 metres apart.

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

Swim 200 m continuously

• 50m Front crawl
• 50m Breaststroke
• 50m Backstroke
• 50m Survival Backstroke or Sidestroke
• Efficient stroke techniques must be used

Survival & Activity skills

Dressed in swimwear, long pants, long sleeved shirt, shoes and socks, perform the following sequence:

Dressed in swimwear, long pants and long sleeved shirt, perform the following as a continuous sequence:

• Enter deep water using an appropriate entry method
• Submerge feet first, swim underwater for 3 meters.
• Resurface, skull, float or tread water for 3 minutes waving for help intermittently.
• Clothing may be removed.
• Correctly fit a PFD while treading water and then swim 25 meters and climb out of the water.

Rescue skills

• Using a buoyant aid, accompanied (non-contact) rescue of a person 15m from safety

Knowledge

• Recognising an emergency

Advanced Personal Water Survival and Swimming Skills Proficiency

Your child will be required to perform strokes with greater ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over 400 meters. Rescue skills and water safety knowledge will focus on lifesaving readiness. Standing dive and advanced personal water survival skills will continue to be taught.

Entries & Exits

• Demonstrate a standing dive

Sculling & Body Orientation

• Keep face above the water surface for 60 seconds using legs only

Underwater skills

• Search for and recover an object in 1.8m of water depth.
• Demonstrate equalizing of ear/nose

Movement/Swimming/Strokes

Swim 400m continuously

• 100m Breaststroke
• 100m Front crawl
• 100m Backstroke
• 100 Survival backstroke or Sidestroke
• Efficient stroke techniques must be used

Survival & Activity skills

Dressed in swimwear, long pants, long sleeved shirt, shoes and socks, perform the following sequence:

• Enter deep water using an appropriate entry method swim 5 meters underwater to simulate an escape from a sinking boat surrounded by oil.
• Swim a further 45 meters as if escaping from a dangerous situation.
• Remove shoes and swim slowly for further 50 meters using any preferred swim stroke occasionally signaling for help.
• Remove clothing in deep water. Fit PFD correctly while treading water, swim 100 meters using appropriate strokes
• Demonstrate HELP technique and climb out of the water whilst wearing the PFD.

Rescue skills

• Using a suitable buoyant aid, tow (non-contact) rescue of a person 10m from safety.

Knowledge

• Principles when performing a rescue