Swim to Survive®
Swim to Survive® is different than swimming lessons - and not a replacement for them. Swim to Survive® teaches the necessary skills to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. Meeting the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard is an important first step to being safe around water.
Basic swimming ability is a requirement of any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. Swim to Survive® defines the minimum swim skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. Because most drownings occur close to safety and most victims had no intention of going into the water, Swim to Survive® focuses on basic survival skills performed as a sequence of three skills:
|
Swim to Survive Standard |
Essential Water Survival Skills | Task |
| Orient oneself at the surface after an unexpected entry | Roll into deep water | |
| Support oneself at the surface | Tread water for 1 minute | |
| Swim to safety | Swim 50 metres |
Swim to Survive® can meet even the tightest time frames and budgets. Use Swim to Survive® for:
- Basic survival training for every family member;
- Meeting educational curriculum requirements;
- Workplace safety training;
- Youth group recreational and training needs;
- Screening for outdoor activities such as canoeing and boating; and
- Programming at your community pool.
Dr. Stephen Beerman, President of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) encourages community groups to provide Swim to Survive skills to all children.
ILS research findings from around the world offer clear evidence that teaching the survival swimming skills taught in Swim to Survive decreases drowning, reducing the mortality and morbidity from aquatic disasters by 50%.
Swim to Survive - Advocacy Letter
Read Dr. Beerman's full letter of support
Read the Lifesaving Society Targeted Communique