Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta

APPENDIX W - WATER SAFETY
The following describes the Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive® Standard. More information about
the program and other water safety considerations (such as lifeguarding) is available at
www.lifesaving.org.
Instructional Considerations:
• Students participating in water activities conducted in water deeper than chest height should meet the
Swim to Survive® Standard.
• Students who cannot meet the Swim to Survive® Standard can still participate in deep water
activities as long as they are wearing a properly fitted lifejacket or Personal Floatation Device
(PFD).
• Prior to participating in boating activities, students should demonstrate the three skills involved in
the Swim to Survive® Standard while wearing a properly fitted life jacket or PFD.
Swim to Survive® Standard:
The Swim to Survive® Standard is a simple, straightforward and focused national standard that defines
the minimum swimming skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. The Swim to
Survive® Standard is a sequence of three skills:
Swim to Survive® Standard = ROLL into deep water + TREAD water (1 min.) + SWIM 50m
Task
Essential skill & rationale
Roll into water
Minimum safe depth for
teaching in 2.5m or 8 ft. 4
inches.
Tread water for 1 minute
Swim 50 metres
Orient oneself at the surface after an unexpected entry.
A fall into water is distorting and a threat to normal respiration.
Support oneself at the surface.
Canadian waters are generally cold enough year-round to trigger a
gasping reflex on unexpected immersion. The ability to tread water
allows you to protect your airway while regaining control of your
breathing.
Swim to safety.
Lifesaving Society research shows most drownings occur within 3 to 15
metres of safety (dock, shoreline, pool edge). Because your ability may
be impaired by cold water, clothing, etc, we use a 50 m distance as a
reasonable standard.
Any method that allows the learner to achieve the standard is acceptable
there is no “right” solution
108
Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta - February 2012