Ensuring teens have swim survival skills
The Lifesaving Society is paying special attention to the results of the public opinion poll by expanding the Swim to Survive+ program. This research reinforces the need to ensure teens have swimming survival skills and knowledge to keep themselves and their friends safe when their brain physiology puts them at risk around water.
That said, the Lifesaving Society is constantly looking for ways to reduce the risk of drowning, especially among those at highest risk. The risk-taking 18 to 24 year-olds continue to have the highest water-related death rate of any age group in Canada at 2.2 per 100,000.
The Swim to Survive+ program teaches the skills needed to survive real-life aquatic situations by building on the skills learned in the Swim to Survive program (for Grade 3 children), which was introduced in 2005. The program fosters good judgment to help teens stay safe around water by teaching participants to:
- Perform the Swim to Survive standard while clothed (e.g. roll into deep water, tread for one minute, and swim 50 m [164 ft]);
- Use good judgment to assist a friend who falls into deep water without putting themselves in danger (by remaining on deck) and getting help by calling an adult or 911; and
- Complete a fitness swim.
Swim to Survive+, which is solely funded through personal and corporate donations and sponsorships, is appropriate for any level of swimmer. Water incidents can happen anywhere and Swim to Survive+ looks to help safeguard children and teens around water now and for years to come.
With the support of TransCanada Corporation, PPL Aquatic, Fitness & Spa Group and the Papke Family, and the Swim to Survive/Swim to Survive+ founding sponsor, the Stephanie Gaetz Keepsafe Foundation, the Lifesaving Society has been able to expand the Swim to Survive+ program to reach Grade 7 students during the 2013-14 school years at this critical stage of their development. By targeting this age, the Lifesaving Society hopes to equip them with the practical water safety skills they need to keep themselves and their friends’ safe well into adulthood.
Barbara Byers is the Lifesaving Society Ontario public education director. She is responsible for the Water Smart® drowning prevention campaign. Byers is past chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) and a member of the International Life Saving Federation’s (ILS’s) Drowning Prevention Commission. She can be reached via e-mail at barbarab@lifeguarding.com.
Kelly Manoukas is the Lifesaving Society Ontario fund developer responsible for the society’s fundraising portfolio. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). To support the society’s initiatives, e-mail kellym@lifeguarding.com.
