STAGE 1

Swim: Incorporated in Sequence 1A

Sequence 1A: (with or w/o goggles)

  • Enter the water with slide-in entry
  • Swim on the back 5m (alternating arms & legs or simultaneous arms and legs)
  • Submerge head in water, open eyes, blow bubbles and identify object on pool floor (w/o goggles)
  • Perform a front float for 5 seconds and stand to recover
  • Then perform a back float for 5 seconds and stand to recover
  • Swim 10m (alternating arm and leg action on front or simultaneous arm and leg action on front)
  • Signal distress and call for help (w/o goggles)
  • Grasp the float and float for 10 seconds (w/o goggles)
  • Then move (with the float) to the pool’s edge and
  • Exit safely from pool (either by ladder or pool’s edge)

Sequence 1B: (w/o goggles)

Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt,

  • Correctly fit a PFD (assistance allowed)
  • Jump in with PFD to water and float for 30 seconds, and then climb out of the water

STAGE 2

Swim:

  • Swim on the front 25m (alternating arms & legs or simultaneous arms and legs)
  • Swim on the back 15m (alternating arms & legs or simultaneous arms and legs)

Survival Sequence 2A: (w/o goggles)

  • Enter the water with step-in entry
  • Front float for 10 seconds
  • Swim 5m on front, rollover
  • Perform back float for 10 seconds
  • Swim 5m on back
  • Scull, float or tread water for 30 seconds
  • Recover an object (in chest deep water)
  • Resurface and exit safely from pool

Survival Sequence 2B part 1: (w/o goggles)

Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:

  • Swim 15m using any survival stroke (face clear of water) and exit safely from water

Survival Sequence 2B part 2: (w/o goggles)

  • Correctly fit a PFD and jump into the water (at least 1.4m deep), swim 25m with PFD, then climb out of the water

STAGE 3

Swim 50m continuously:

  • 25m backstroke, and
  • 25m front crawl

Survival Sequence 3A (w/o goggles):

  • Enter the water with stride/straddle entry (in deep water)
  • Swim 25m survival backstroke then, 25m breaststroke
  • Scull head-first on the back for 5m and recover
  • Scull, float or tread for another 50 seconds
  • Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 2m swim
  • Resurface and exit safely from pool

Survival Sequence 3B (w/o goggles):

Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:

  • Swim 25m using survival backstroke or survival breaststroke to a PFD (Face clear of water)
  • Correctly fit a PFD in water, swim 50m with PFD, then climb out of the water

STAGE 4 (Bronze)

Swim:

Swim 100m continuously:

  • 25m Front-Crawl
  • 25m Backstroke
  • 25m Breaststroke
  • 25m Survival Backstroke

Survival Sequence Bronze A (w/o goggles):

  • Enter the water using a compact jump (in deep water), resurface
  • Perform a forward somersault
  • Scull, float or tread water for 2 min
  • In at least 1.4m deep water, perform feet-first surface dive
  • Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 2m
  • Resurface and exit safely from pool

Survival Sequence Bronze B: (w/o goggles)

Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:

  • 3 min swimming slowly using survival backstroke, sidestroke, survival breaststroke, change stroke at every 15m mark
  • Wave for help (rescuer to throw flotation aid)
  • Swim to a flotation aid and kick to pool’s edge, then climb out of water

STAGE 5 (Silver)

Swim:

Swim (use crouching dive entry for Front-Crawl, Breaststroke):

  • 50m Front-Crawl (within 1:30 min)
  • 50m Breaststroke (within 1:50 min)
  • 50m Backstroke (within 1:40 min)
  • 25m Survival Backstroke
  • 25m Sidestroke
  • Dolphin kick 10m on front

Silver Sequence: (w/o goggles)

Dressed in swimwear, long pants and t-shirt demonstrate the following sequence:

  • Enter deep water using a straddle jump
  • Perform a backward somersault
  • Submerge using feet first surface dive
  • Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 3m and resurface
  • Swim 45m quickly using front crawl
  • Wave and call for help (rescuer to throw a PFD)
  • Retrieve a PFD in water and fit it while treading water.
  • Demonstrate Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique for 30 seconds
  • Then swim 25m with PFD and climb out of the water

STAGE 6 (Gold)

Swim:

Swim (use standing dive entry for Front-Crawl, Breaststroke):

  • 100m Front-Crawl (within 3:00 min)
  • 100m Breaststroke (within 4:00 min)
  • 100m Backstroke (within 3:20 min)
  • 50m Survival Backstroke
  • 50m Sidestroke
  • 15m Butterfly

Gold Sequence : (w/o goggles)

Dressed in swimwear, long pants, t-shirt, perform the following sequence

  • Enter deep water using a compact jump
  • Perform a head-first surface dive to a depth of at least 1.8m (and perform ear equalisation, if necessary)
  • Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 5m and resurface
  • Swim 45m quickly using front crawl
  • Then, swim slowly for a further 50m using any preferred survival swim stroke (Face clear of water). Remove pants in deep water and make a float with it while treading water within 5 min.
  • Demonstrate Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique for 1 min with the self-made float
  • Then swim 25m with the self-made float
  • Climb out of the water

WATER SAFETY KNOWLEDGE - Principles of Personal safety and Survival

A. PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL SAFETY AND SURVIVAL

i. The Water Smart Code
The Water Smart Code is a list of simple guidelines you should follow when engaging in aquatic activities. They are: 1) Go Together: Play or swim in the water with someone who knows what to do in an emergency and can get help or rescue you. Never swim alone. If you are a child, it is important that you always go swimming with an adult.
2) Know the Dangers: Water can be fun but you should be aware of potential hazards. Never dive into shallow or unknown waters as there is a high chance that you could be injured when you hit the bottom or an object hidden under the water’s surface. Use feetfirst entry when entering the water. Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions above or below the water.
3) Take Safety Advice: Apply simple common-sense safety rules in all aquatic activities. Many accidents can be prevented if safety rules are heeded. One piece of advice which is commonly ignored is the importance of using Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) when canoeing or boating.
4) Float and Wave: If you are in trouble in the water (for example, if you experience a leg cramp), relax, roll onto your back and wave for help with one arm.
5) Learn How to Help: If someone needs help, don’t just plunge in. Lie down and reach out with a stick or throw the person a floatation aid. Call 995 for help.
ii. Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
A Personal Floatation Device (PFD) is a piece of equipment designed to help the wearer keep afloat in water. In emergency situations where there is no PFD, swimmers can remove their clothing and fill it with air to make a float for survival.
A PFD is commonly used for water activities such as boating, kayaking and canoeing.
PFDs vs Lifejackets A PFD is NOT the same as a lifejacket although they may look similar. The table below summarises their key differences.
Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
  • designed to keep a conscious person afloat in calm conditions
  • has less buoyancy
  • floatation material is on the back of the device
Lifejacket
  • designed to turn an unconscious person from face down to face up in the water, allowing them to breathe
  • has more buoyancy
  • floatation material is in the front of the device

WATER SAFETY KNOWLEDGE - Rescue

D. RESCUE

i. The Water Smart Code
Sometimes parents or caregivers watching children around water fail to recognise when a swimmer is in trouble. Most people who are in trouble in the water cannot or do not call for help. They spend their energy trying to keep their heads above water to get a breath. A swimmer in distress may be too tired to get to the side of the pool or may be trying to swim with little or no forward progress. If not assisted in time, a swimmer in distress may soon become a victim of drowning.
Being able to recognise a person who is having trouble in the water may help save that person’s life. The following are the characteristics of a person in an aquatic emergency, according to how proficient they are at swimming.
Non-swimmer:
Non-swimmers will panic when experiencing difficulty in the water. They will often do what is referred to as “climbing the ladder” — they will be vertical in the water and appear to be climbing a vertical ladder. The swimmer will have minimal or non-supportive leg action. They may submerge and may or may not be facing the shore. A non-swimmer may attempt to grab the rescuer.
Weak swimmer:
Weak swimmers may be able to use their arms and legs for support. The swimmer will often be angled in the water (at approximately 45 degrees) and may attempt to grasp the rescuer or a floatation aid. Their head position will be tilted up and back and the head will usually be turned to safety or help.
Injured swimmer:
An injured swimmer will typically grasp the injured body part and call for help. They may be in an awkward position, but will be able to use a floatation device if provided.
Unconscious swimmer:
The unconscious person may be at any depth of water, depending of the length of time they have been unconscious. The individual may be face-up or facedown in the water, but will not be moving. Rescue conscious swimmers first before they go unconscious.
ii. The Four “A”s
If you notice a swimmer in trouble, you need to act quickly. The steps in any rescue may be summarised as ‘the four As’:
  1. Awareness
  2. Assessment
  3. Action
  4. Aftercare
1) AWARENESS The ability to recognise an emergency situation (refer to the section: Characteristics of a Person in Difficulty on how to identify a victim of an aquatic emergency).
2) ASSESSMENT Assess the situation to make sure that the scene is safe to conduct the rescue — do not put yourself at risk while attempting to rescue the person. Then, act based on your training (knowledge, fitness, skill and ability). If you do not have the ability to conduct the rescue, alert others who do (for example, the lifeguards) and call for help.
3) ACTION If you are able to do so safely, help get the swimmer out of the water. To ensure maximum safety, any rescuer should consider using, in order of priority (from top to bottom), the following methods of rescue. [Land-based or dry rescue (without the need of going into the water) is the safest action for consideration before attempting any water-based rescue, especially for younger rescuers.]
Rescue Technique – Accompanied Swimming (Water Based rescue)
– What is It?

With a floatation aid, swim to the victim and pass the aid to him or her. Accompany the person to safety.

-When to use it?

Rescuers should use a swimming rescue only if he/she is a strong/confident swimmer and when all land-based rescues have either failed or are not appropriate.

Rescue Technique – Non-contact Tow (Water Based rescue)
– What is It?

Swim closer to the victim and use an assist equipment to tow the victim to safety.

– When to use it?

If a swimming rescue is to be used, always attempt an Accompanied Swimming rescue first. However, a Non-contact Tow can be used when an accompanied rescue is not possible or has proven ineffective.

Rescue Technique – Contact Tow (Water based rescue)
– What is It?

Swim to the victim to tow him or her to safety.

– When to use it?

A Contact Tow is performed when all other rescue approaches are not suitable. For example, when the victim is not able to swim, has not responded to rescue aids, or is unconscious.

4) AFTERCARE
After rescuing the victim, reassure him/her and provide any aid until medical help arrives. When the paramedics arrive, inform them of what has happened.