New Swimming and Water Safety Program to Release in Spring 2004

Written by the Preparedness Department , American Red Cross

Friday, February 06, 2004 — Even in the midst of the year’s coldest months, the health and safety experts at the American Red Cross remember the importance of summertime swimming safety and are busy preparing for the release of the updated Swimming and Water Safety Program in spring 2004.

Click here to read about the new features of the 2004 program

The new program represents the first major revision in 12 years and features shortened training times, the option for parents and children to learn together, and other innovative additions.

The program includes the following courses and presentations:

• Learn-to-Swim

  Learn-to-Swim (LTS) consists of six levels (see side bar) of instruction to help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. “An exciting enhancement to Red Cross LTS is that when students reach level 6, they can choose from 4 different interest areas, Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimmer, Fundamentals of Diving and Lifeguard Readiness. At level 6, they continue to refine their skill and improve endurance while also developing skills and knowledge for specific aquatic activities,” said Mike Espino, American Red Cross aquatics expert.

  The levels are designed to give students a positive experience in learning how to swim in a logical progression and how to be safe in, on and around the water.

• Parent and Child Aquatics

  Parent and Child Aquatics targets parents and their children ages 6 months to 5 years. The parents learn how to hold and support their child safely and appropriately while helping to increase their child’s comfort level in the water. A foundation of basic skills will be built, such as arm and leg movements and breath control. Once the child can perform these basic skills without their parents, they are eligible to move to the Learn-to-Swim course levels.

• Water Safety Today

  This presentation educates the general public on the importance of safety when around water at home and away.

• Longfellow’s WHALE Tales

  Longfellow’s WHALE Tales is designed to be used by elementary school teachers and youth leaders to provide essential water safety knowledge. Leaders are not required to have prior swimming experience or water safety training.

• Water Safety Instructor

  This new 30-hour course (see side bar) is designed to provide instructors and instructor trainers with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively conduct courses within the Swimming and Water Safety program “This new instructor course was developed so that every moment spent in the classroom or the pool directly impacts the instructors’ skills and knowledge related to teaching people to swim and being safe in, on and around the water,” Espino states.

  The Water Safety Instructor’s manual was developed so both new and experienced instructors can use it. The manual is packaged with a CD-ROM loaded with tools to help instructors deliver their learn-to-swim classes, including with a library of teaching activities, games and drills.

For more information about the Swimming and Water Safety Program, contact your local Red Cross chapter . So before the pools open, the lake houses are booked and the beaches become covered in towels and umbrellas, the Red Cross encourages you to prepare yourself and your family with swimming and water safety skills.

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