Aquatics Safety

1
Aquatics Safety

• Safe Swim Defense Northern Star District

Presentation By Rob Freas Skipper, Sea Scout Ship
468 Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 468
2
Safe Swim Defense

• S M A L L
• Supervision
• Medical Re-checks
• Ability Groups
• Lifeguard
• Lookout

• B A D
• Buddy System
• Area, Safe
• Discipline

3
Supervision

• Adult (21)
• Accepts Responsibility for the Safety of the
  Youth
• Confident he/she can respond adequately/appropriat
  ely to emergencies
• Trained/committed to Safe Swim Defense
• Not necessarily a certified lifeguard
• Get Assistance from a BSA Lifeguard

4
Medical Re-checks (Physical Fitness)

• Complete health history
• Class 2 or 3 Medical Form
• Significant medical conditions
• Adjustment activity/guard duties to accommodate
  medical concerns
• Significant medical concerns should require a
  physicians examination

5
Ability Groups

• Non-Swimmer
• Beginner
• Swimmer

6
Ability Groups - Non-Swimmer

• Non-Swimmer activities (games, etc.)
• Make time/staff to help teach swimming
• Encourage swim lessons

7
Ability Groups -Beginner

• Jump feet first/water over head
• must start without push-off
• 25 yd swim any stroke
• stamina
• Sharp turn
• must re-start swimming without touching
• Return to start
• stamina

8
Ability Group - Swimmer

• Jump feet first over head
• The boy must start swimming without push-off
• 75 yd. swim forward strong manner
• Crawl, Trudgen, Breast, Side
• Sharp turn
• 25 yd. resting stroke
• Elementary Back or other resting stroke on back
• Resting while floating
• Renewed Annually

9
Lifeguard

• Certified
• School pools, water parks etc.
• Unit Swim
• Non-certified
• Good swimming adults
• Scouts
• Good swimmers
• Line and Tender
• 1 to 10 ratio (1 to 5 Cub)

10
Lookout

• See
• Entire swimming area
• Hear
• Age

11
Buddy System

• Check in and out of area
• Buddy Checks (10 min.)
• Keep buddies together
• Procedure for Buddy Checks

12
Area, Safe

• Three areas clearly marked
• Non-Swimmer
• Area (3½ max)
• Beginners
• Over head

13
Area, Safe

• Swimmers
• 12 Max.
• Diving
• Non-turbid water (3/12 white disc)
• 7 Min.
• Entry from over 18 needs 10 to 12
• Dive entry over 40 prohibited
• Feet first entry over 60 prohibited

14
Discipline

• Safe Swim Defense
• Agree to and use all points
• Rules are set/discussed for the area you are
  using prior to activity
• Give reasons for rules if possible
• Be firm and be fair

15
Safe Swim Defense

• S M A L L
• Supervision
• Medical Re-checks
• Ability Groups
• Lifeguard
• Lookout

• B A D
• Buddy System
• Area, Safe
• Discipline