Children need constant supervision around water. While water safety should start at home, often parents face their own challenges when it comes to water. For this reason it has become a priority for the Summer Blast Program to initiate and equip every student/participant with the skills to survive in the water whether for fun or in the event of an emergency. Children drown at an unnecessary rate because they panic in the water and do not have the elementary skills to engage in a survival mode during an accidental drowning. The skills children learn during the water safety classes are life saving tips and exercises that could potentially safe their lives or the life of a drowning victim.
The goal of the water safety program is to equip every student with water safety skills that prevent injuries and drowning. Common sense tips and exercises encourage mastery of basic swimming skills. All participants receive instruction in water safety, however only participants who do not know how to swim receive basic individualized lessons. All classes and instruction are age appropriate. Students are divided in small cooperative groups.
Objectives for Water Safety are as follows:
- Knowledge of safety procedures in and outside the pool
- Practice entering and exiting pool
- Demonstrate submersion underwater and breath control
- Demonstrate front and back floating
- Demonstrate front and back glides
- Practice confidence in the pool through required exercises
Children participate weekly in water safety classes with the guidance of the water safety instructor. Each child receives one on one instruction and critiques in the skills listed above. Progress is monitored in each class and instruction is altered based on progress.