Safe Swim DefenseSafe Swim DefenseBSA Lifeguard TrainingBSA Lifeguard Training

20002000

Ray VoigtRay VoigtGulf Stream Council BSAGulf Stream Council BSA

Palm Beach County, Florida Palm Beach County, Florida

Safe Swim DefenseSafe Swim Defense

Q - B A L L S - P D or P D Q – B A L L SQ - B A L L S - P D or P D Q – B A L L SQQualified Supervisionualified SupervisionTheThe B Buddy Systemuddy System

AAbility Groupsbility GroupsLLifeguardsifeguardsLLookoutsookouts

SSafe afe SSwim Areawim AreaPPhysical Fitnesshysical Fitness

DDisciplineiscipline

Qualified SupervisionQualified SupervisionAll swimming activity must be supervisedAll swimming activity must be supervisedby a by a maturemature and conscientious adult and conscientious adult 2121years of ageyears of age or older who understands or older who understands

and knowingly and knowingly accepts responsibilityaccepts responsibility for forthe well being and safety of the childrenthe well being and safety of the childrenin his or her care, who is in his or her care, who is experiencedexperienced

in the waterin the water and confident of being and confident of being ableableto respond in the event of an emergencyto respond in the event of an emergency,,

and who is and who is trained in and committed totrained in and committed tocompliance with the eight points of BSAcompliance with the eight points of BSA

Safe Swim DefenseSafe Swim Defense. .

Qualified SupervisionQualified Supervision

A mature adult, at least 21 years of age A mature adult, at least 21 years of age One who is able to accept responsibility.One who is able to accept responsibility. Experienced in the water and water safety.Experienced in the water and water safety. Able to respond in the event of an Able to respond in the event of an

emergency.emergency. Trained in and committed to compliance Trained in and committed to compliance

with the eight points of the BSA Safe Swim with the eight points of the BSA Safe Swim DefenseDefense..

Qualified SupervisionQualified Supervision

It is stronglyIt is strongly

recommended that all units have at leastrecommended that all units have at least

one adult or older youth memberone adult or older youth member

currently certified as a BSA Lifeguardcurrently certified as a BSA Lifeguard

to assist in the planning and conducting ofto assist in the planning and conducting of

all swimming and water related activity.all swimming and water related activity.

It is strongly recommended that you also include a trained scouter who has a current CPR certification.

The Buddy SystemThe Buddy System

Pair every swimmer with another in Pair every swimmer with another in the same ability group.the same ability group.

Buddies check in and out of the Buddies check in and out of the swimming area together.swimming area together.

Emphasize that each buddy lifeguards Emphasize that each buddy lifeguards his buddy.his buddy.

Check everyone in the water about Check everyone in the water about every ten minutes, or as needed to every ten minutes, or as needed to keep the buddies swimming together.keep the buddies swimming together.

The Buddy SystemThe Buddy System

The Adult in charge signals a buddy check with The Adult in charge signals a buddy check with a single blast of a whistle or a ring of a bell, a single blast of a whistle or a ring of a bell, and calls “Buddies!” or “Buddy Check!”and calls “Buddies!” or “Buddy Check!”

He counts slowly to ten while buddies join and He counts slowly to ten while buddies join and raise hands and remain still and silent. You raise hands and remain still and silent. You may want them to get out of the water. may want them to get out of the water.

Guards check all areas, count the pairs, an Guards check all areas, count the pairs, an compare the total with the number known to compare the total with the number known to be in the water. be in the water. (sets of shoes or sets of buddy tags)(sets of shoes or sets of buddy tags)

Signal two blasts or bells to resume swimming.Signal two blasts or bells to resume swimming. Signal three blasts or bells for checkout.Signal three blasts or bells for checkout.

The Buddy SystemThe Buddy System

Buddy checks are a great way of Buddy checks are a great way of maintaining the control and maintaining the control and discipline of your swimmers.discipline of your swimmers.

Ability GroupsAbility Groups

Divide your scouts and adults Divide your scouts and adults into three ability groups:into three ability groups:

Non-swimmers, beginners, and Non-swimmers, beginners, and swimmers.swimmers.

Keep each group in its own area.Keep each group in its own area.

Ability GroupsAbility Groups

Swimmers 12Ft Deep

Beginners Waist to Shoulder Deep

Non-Swimmers Waist deep to the shore

Ability GroupsAbility Groups

Non-swimmers; have not passed any Non-swimmers; have not passed any swimming test.swimming test.

Beginner Swimmers; must pass the Beginner Swimmers; must pass the following test:following test: Jump feet-first into water over the head in Jump feet-first into water over the head in

depth, level off,depth, level off, Swim 25 feet on the surface. Stop, turn Swim 25 feet on the surface. Stop, turn

sharply and swim as before and return to the sharply and swim as before and return to the starting place.starting place.

Ability GroupsAbility GroupsSwimmers must pass this test;Swimmers must pass this test;

1.1. Jump feet first into water over the head in depth.Jump feet first into water over the head in depth.2.2. Level off and swim 75 yards in a strong manner Level off and swim 75 yards in a strong manner

using one or more of the following strokes; Side using one or more of the following strokes; Side Stroke, Breast Stroke, Trudgen or Crawl.Stroke, Breast Stroke, Trudgen or Crawl.

3.3. Then swim 25 yard, using an easy resting Then swim 25 yard, using an easy resting backstroke.backstroke.

4.4. The 100 yards total, must be swum continuously The 100 yards total, must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn.and include at least one sharp turn.

5.5. After completing the swim, rest by floating. After completing the swim, rest by floating.

These classification tests should be renewed annually, preferably at the beginning of the season.

LifeguardsLifeguards

Appoint two capable swimmers as lifeguards.Appoint two capable swimmers as lifeguards. Station them ashore, equipped with a lifeline. Station them ashore, equipped with a lifeline.

(100-foot length of 1/4" nylon rope). (100-foot length of 1/4" nylon rope). In an emergency, one carries out the line and the In an emergency, one carries out the line and the

other feeds it out from shore, then pulls in his other feeds it out from shore, then pulls in his partner and the person being assisted.partner and the person being assisted.

In addition, if a boat is available, have two people, In addition, if a boat is available, have two people, preferably capable swimmers and boaters, take it preferably capable swimmers and boaters, take it out, one rowing, the other equipped with a 10-foot out, one rowing, the other equipped with a 10-foot pole or an extra oar. pole or an extra oar.

Provide one guard for every ten swimmers.Provide one guard for every ten swimmers.

LifeguardsLifeguardsThe Formula is;The Formula is;

two capable swimmers as lifeguards.two capable swimmers as lifeguards.

Provide one guard for every ten persons.Provide one guard for every ten persons.******

1 swimmer = 2 lifeguards1 swimmer = 2 lifeguards10 swimmers = 2 lifeguards10 swimmers = 2 lifeguards11 swimmers = 3 lifeguards11 swimmers = 3 lifeguards20 swimmers = 3 lifeguards20 swimmers = 3 lifeguards21 swimmers = 4 lifeguards21 swimmers = 4 lifeguards

LookoutsLookouts

Station a lookout on the shore Station a lookout on the shore where they can see and hear where they can see and hear everything in all areas.everything in all areas. They They

can be the adult in charge of the can be the adult in charge of the swim and may also be the swim and may also be the

person that gives the signals for person that gives the signals for the buddy checksthe buddy checks

LookoutsLookouts

NOTE: Lifeguards and lookouts must not NOTE: Lifeguards and lookouts must not take their eyes off the water, swimmers, the take their eyes off the water, swimmers, the swimming area, and the weather conditions.swimming area, and the weather conditions.

Keep all swimmers clearly in view and avoid Keep all swimmers clearly in view and avoid talking to other people while on duty.talking to other people while on duty.

The time may come when your attention and The time may come when your attention and alertness will save a life. alertness will save a life.

Be alert. Be serious about your Be alert. Be serious about your responsibility.responsibility.

LookoutsLookouts

Lifeguards must not serve as lookouts Lifeguards must not serve as lookouts while they are serving as lifeguards. while they are serving as lifeguards.

********

Lookouts must not serve as or double Lookouts must not serve as or double as lifeguards while they are on duty as lifeguards while they are on duty

as lookouts.as lookouts.

********

Socializing between lifeguards and Socializing between lifeguards and lookouts or swimmers should not lookouts or swimmers should not

take place.take place.

Safe Swim AreaSafe Swim Area

Have the lifeguards and swimmers Have the lifeguards and swimmers systematically examine the entire bottom systematically examine the entire bottom of the swimming area to of the swimming area to – determine varying depths, determine varying depths, – deep holes, deep holes, – hidden rockshidden rocks– Hidden tree stumpsHidden tree stumps

Safe Swim AreaSafe Swim Area

Mark of an area for 3 groups;Mark of an area for 3 groups;– Not more that 3.5 feet deep for non-swimmersNot more that 3.5 feet deep for non-swimmers– From shallow water to just over the head of the From shallow water to just over the head of the

average beginner swimmer,average beginner swimmer,– Water not more than 12 feet deep for swimmers.Water not more than 12 feet deep for swimmers.

Mark the boundaries using sticks, or flags stuck Mark the boundaries using sticks, or flags stuck into the bottom, or plastic bottles, balloons or into the bottom, or plastic bottles, balloons or floats anchored to rocks for anchors.floats anchored to rocks for anchors.

Safe Swim AreaSafe Swim Area

Enclose the non-swimmer and beginner Enclose the non-swimmer and beginner area, with buoy lines and floats between area, with buoy lines and floats between the markers.the markers.

Mark the outer bounds of the swimmer Mark the outer bounds of the swimmer area with floats. area with floats.

Be sure that the water depth is 7 ft or Be sure that the water depth is 7 ft or greater before allowing any diving in greater before allowing any diving in pools, off piers on floating docks.pools, off piers on floating docks.

Safe Swim AreaSafe Swim Area

Physical FitnessPhysical Fitness

Require evidence of fitness for swimming activity Require evidence of fitness for swimming activity with a complete health history from physician, with a complete health history from physician, parent, or legal guardian. parent, or legal guardian.

The adult supervisor should adjust all The adult supervisor should adjust all supervision, discipline, and protection to supervision, discipline, and protection to anticipate any potential risks associated with anticipate any potential risks associated with individual health conditions. individual health conditions.

In the event of any significant health conditions, In the event of any significant health conditions, an examination by a physician should be required an examination by a physician should be required by the adult supervisor.by the adult supervisor.

DisciplineDiscipline

Be sure that everyone understands Be sure that everyone understands and agrees that swimming is allowed and agrees that swimming is allowed only with proper supervision and use only with proper supervision and use of the complete Safe Swim Defense. of the complete Safe Swim Defense.

Scouts should respect and follow all Scouts should respect and follow all directions and rules of the adult directions and rules of the adult supervisor. supervisor.

DisciplineDiscipline

When everyone knows the reason When everyone knows the reason for rules and procedures, they are for rules and procedures, they are more likely to follow them. more likely to follow them.

Be strict and fair, and show no Be strict and fair, and show no favoritism.favoritism.

Safe Swim DefenseSafe Swim Defense

Q - B A L L S - P D or P D Q – B A L L SQ - B A L L S - P D or P D Q – B A L L SQ _________________________________Q _________________________________B _________________________________B _________________________________A _________________________________A _________________________________L _________________________________L _________________________________L _________________________________L _________________________________S _________________________________S _________________________________P _________________________________P _________________________________D _________________________________D _________________________________

Safe Swim DefenseSafe Swim Defense

Thank you for your attention..!Thank you for your attention..!

It is our intention that you are It is our intention that you are able to host both fun, and safe able to host both fun, and safe swimming events in scouting.swimming events in scouting.