What is the purpose of the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program?
To teach people how to be safe, in, on and around water; and to teach
... [Show More] people of all ages and varying abilities how to swim.
What are some Water Safety Instructor resources?
Water Safety Instructor's Manual, Swimming and Water Safety, Swimming and Water Safety Program DVD set and Instructor's Corner.
The Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program is made up of what courses?
Water Safety Instructor
Parent and Child Aquatics (2 levels)
Preschool Aquatics (3 levels)
Learn-to-Swim (6 levels)
Adult Swim (3 courses: Learning the basics, Improving Skills and swimming strokes, Swimming for fitness)
Longfellow's WHALE Tales
Dryland water safety program intended for children ages 5 through 12.
Longfellow's WHALE Tales Topics
Swim as a Pair Near a Lifeguard's Chair
Be Cool, Follow the Rules
Look Before You Leap
Think So You Don't Sink
Reach or Throw, Don't Go
Don't Just Pack It, Wear Your Jacket
Think Twice Before Going Near Cold Water or Ice
Know About Boating Before You Go Floating
Too Much Sun Is No Fun
In Your House and in Your Yard, Watch for Water, Be on Guard
Wave, Tide or Ride, Follow the Guide
Water safety presentations examples
General Water Safety
Home Pool Safety
Parent Orientation to Swim Lessons
Sun Safety
Rip Current Safety
Water safety courses
Water Safety Today
Basic Water Rescue
Personal Water Safety
Safety Training for Swim Coaches
General age guideline for Parent and Child Aquatics
infants and toddlers from 6 months to approximately 3 years of age
General age guideline for Preschool Aquatics
children approximately 4 to 5 years of age
General age guideline for Learn-to-Swim
children from approximately 6 years of age through older youth
General age guideline for Adult Swim
youth approximately 15 years old through adults
As a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor you are responsible for:
Providing for the health and safety of participants by always ensuring that:
-All equipment is clean and in good working order
-All participants have the physical ability to perform the skills and know to consult you for concerns about their physical ability to do so.
-All participants are aware of health precautions and guidelines concerning infectious diseases.
-The classroom, aquatic facility and all practice areas have been checked for any hazards
The Red Cross recommends the following minimum instructor-to-participant ratios for Parent and Child Aquatics
1 instructor for every 10 parent and child pairs
The Red Cross recommends the following minimum instructor-to-participant ratios for Preschool Aquatics Levels 1-3, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-3,Adult Swim - learning the basics
no less than 1 instructor for every 6 participants
The Red Cross recommends the following minimum instructor-to-participant ratios for Learn-to-Swim Levels 4-6, Adult Swim-Improving skills and swimming strokes, Adult Swim- Swimming for Fitness
no less than 1 instructor for every 10 participants
Motor skills
motions carried out when the nervous system (that is, the brain, spinal cord and nerves) and the muscles work together.
Changes in motor skills do not occur randomly, but they happen in a:
Predictable Order
Because swimming skills change over time in predictable, natural sequences, your teaching progressions should:
Always parallel these naturally occurring sequences
As swimmers' skills develop, their skills become:
more specialized and flexible
Early Stage of Learning
marked by awkward, slow movements that learners consciously try to control. Poor understanding of task.
Intermediate Stage of Learning
Once you had the idea of the movement you've progressed to this level. More rapid movement. Inconsistent movements that vary with each try. An increased understanding of the task, but alack of understanding of all of the fine points that are needed to successfully complete the task.
Advanced Stage of Learning
When you are no longer dependent on your instructor for feedback on your performance. Accurate, rapid movement. An understanding of skill technique. The ability to assess and evaluate one's own performance.
3 Teaching Progressions used to help you manage any anxiety participants may have about attempting skills
Developmental: skills are broken into steps that are taught logically, each leading directly to the next.
Familiar: Based on the principle that people learn skills more easily when the skills are taught in a standardized way.
Measurable: Since the teaching progressions are divided into small, measurable steps, you and the participants have a useful standard for setting goals.
Avoidance Behaviors of the Anxious Participant
-Making excuses
-Huddling
-Holding the body rigid, particularly the muscles of the shoulders and legs
-Clenching the fists
-Pursing or biting the lips
-Shivering even in warm temperatures
-Clinging to supports
Psychological Factors
Create an atmosphere in which participants feel safe and confident that they will not be ridiculed and are not afraid to make mistakes. [Show Less]