Take the Swim to Survive Challenge!

Lifesaving Society's Summer Water Smart Campaign 2006

As part of its summer Water Smart Campaign, the Lifesaving Society is challenging all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to Swim to Survive. Starting July 16 - July 23 (National Drowning Prevention Week) and running through to September 4, 2006,, the Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive Challenge asks, "Can you pass the Lifeaving Society's Swim to Survive Standard?"

Meeting the "Swim to Survive Standard" is an important first step to being safe around water. This standard defines the minmum swimming skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.

As a leader in your community, the Swim to Survive Challenge is a great tool to reach out to people with the message "All children should learn to swim to be safe around water." The challenge to pool staff is to see how many people you can persuade, encourage and support to take up the Swim to Survive Challenge.

The Lifesaving Society wants to recognize your participation by providing prizes to Affiliates who offer this unique Water Smart opportunity at your community. Prizes for the Swim to Survive Challege campaign are determined by the innovative ways you get the community involed in the challenge and how many people you reach.

What you need to do:
1. Promote the Swim to Survive Challenge
2. Order promotional items. See attached order form.
3. Print the Drowning Preventional Awareness Donation Card and attach the Drowning Prevention Awareness Ribbon (To be given to every participant)
4. Run your Swim to Survive Challenge event(s).
5. Fill out the Challenge Entry Form and mail or fax it to the Lifesaving Society by September 15th.

Reward your Participants:
The Drowning Prevention Awareness Ribbons are being made available as a special reward system for all of those who participate, whether or not they meet the standard. Included as additional award options are a black line master for the Swim to Survive Certificate that can be photocopied and given to participatns, and/or the Swim to Survive Ribbons. The Drowning Prevention Awareness Ribbons and black line master for the Swim to Survive Certificate will be provided at no charge to the facility. Swim to Survive Ribbons can be purchased at $0.35 each.

How to offer Swim to Survive:
Here are some ways your facility and community can participate in this unique challenge.

Swimmers can do the challenge in their lessons.
A way to get swimers to swim for their deep end mark
As part of a pool event like National Drowning Prevention Day or a pool party.
As a course with school groups.
As a scheduled course for groups with a wide range of swimming abilities.
For Boys and Girls Clubs that use your facility either challenging the standrad or as a course.
For Seniors gorups that take Aquafit or other programs at your facility.
In conjuntion with Seniors groups, homes and outreach programs to help keep them active.
Summer Camp Lessons
As a screening tool for participation in Canoeing trips or other aquatic programs and activities
Family group lessons
During public swim times
A crash swim course for the underprivileged
A warm up for swim teams and Junior Lifeguard Clubs
In conjunction with summer playground programs
Community league swim times
Lessons/swim times for daycares.

Affiliates
Tools to get you started:

Swim to Survive Activity Guide
Swim to Survive Inservice Guide
Black line master for the Swim to Survive Certificate (black & white) (colour)
Black line master for the Drowning Prevention Awareness Donation Card (black & white) (colour)
Swim to Survive Challenge information sheet
Swim to Survive participant sheet

Getting involved in the Swim to Survive Challenge can...

Increase your patronage
Educate your community on the value of learning to swim
Give your staff a chance to win cool prizes
Connect you to other community groups
Raise your facility's profile in the community
Give opportunities for government funding and sponsorship for supplying activities to distinct user groups.

Drowning Prevention Awareness Donation Card
Support the Lifesaving Society's drowning prevetnion awareness efforts by giving the Drowning Prevention Awareness Donation Card with the participant ribbon.

As Canada's lifeguarding expert and leader in education and training to prevent drownings and water related injuries, the Lifesaving Society is please to present it's Swim Program - Swim for Life™.

Top Ten Reasons for choosing Swim for Life™

Everyone should learn how to swim. We can teach them.
Never too young to learn ... Never too old to start!

The best place to learn to swim is in the water.

Swim for Life stresses lots of in-water practice and having fun. More time in the water doing, and less time on the deck listening.
Swim for Life starts by teaching strong foundational skills and essential personal self-rescue skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
Floatation aids are key teaching tools. Used to support the swimmer so they can breathe while learning a new skill.
Swim for Life continues on by challenging swimmers to develop effective swimming strokes for longer distances and increased fitness levels.
Built on the principles of success, evaluation standards set realistic, achievable goals. Keeping learners happy and interested in swimming.

The best place to learn to behave safely around water is in the water.

Swim for Life includes a Water Smart® Experience component - hands on fun and active teaching activities, lessons that will last a lifetime.
You can spot Water Smart® kids right away. They're the ones who know how to swim and behave safely around water. Swim for Life makes sure your kids are Water Smart® before they get in too deep.

The best place to learn skills needed for healthy active living, now and for the future.

Swim for Life develops skills necessary for safe and healthy active living. A perfect fit for those who work and play on or near water.
Swim for Life keeps youths challenged, having fun and interested in learning more. Ready to go further to learn first aid and lifesaving training through Junior Lifeguard Clubs, Canadian Swim Patrol and Bronze Medal Awards.
Swim for Life develops skills that connect directly into Lifesaving Society programs that certify youths for future employment as Lifeguards and Instructors.

Questions or comments? Contact us at lifeguard@nl.rogers.com

Last Updated:July 11, 2006