Swimming and Water Safety Skills Chart Learn-to-Swim Based on a logical, six level progression that helps swimmers develop their water safety, survival and swimming skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience. LEVEL 1: INTRODUCTION TO WATER SKILLS Helps participants feel comfortable in the water y Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side y Roll from front to back and back to front y Recognizing the lifeguards y Blow bubbles through mouth and nose y Tread water using arm and hand actions y Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket y Bobbing y Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on y Recognizing an emergency y Open eyes under water & retrieve submerged object front and back y How to call for help y Front & back glides & back float y Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on y Too much sun is no fun y Recover to vertical position from a front glide & back front and back float or glide y Staying safe around aquatic environments y Combined arm and leg actions on front and back LEVEL 2: FUNDAMENTAL AQUATIC SKILLS Gives participants success with fundamental skills y Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side y Recover from a front and back float or glide y Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket y Exit water using ladder, steps or side to a vertical position y Recognizing an emergency y Fully submerge and hold breath y Roll from front to back and back to front y How to call for help y Bobbing y Change direction of travel while swimming y Too much sun is no fun y Open eyes under water & retrieve submerged objects on front or back y Look before you leap y Front, jellyfish and tuck floats y Tread water using arm and leg actions y Think so you don’t sink y Front and back glides and back float y Combined arm & leg actions on front & back y Reach or throw, don’t go y Finning arm action on back y Staying safe around aquatic environments LEVEL 3: STROKE DEVELOPMENT Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper waters y Enter water by jumping from the side y Back float y Scissors kick y Headfirst entry from the side in sitting and kneeling y Change from vertical to horizontal position y Reach or throw, don’t go positions on front and back y Look before you leap y Bobbing while moving toward safety y Push off in a streamlined position then begin y Think twice before going near cold y Rotary breathing flutter and dolphin kicks on front water or ice y Survival float y Tread water y Front crawl and elementary backstroke LEVEL 4: STROKE IMPROVEMENT Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills y Headfirst entry from the side in compact and stride y Front crawl and back stroke open turns y Reach or throw, don’t go positions y Tread water using 2 different kicks y Recreational water illnesses y Swim under water y Front and back crawl, elementary y Think so you don’t sink y Feet first surface dive backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and y Look before you leap y Survival swimming butterfly y Push off in a streamlined position then begin flutter and dolphin kicks on back LEVEL 5: STROKE REFINEMENT Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes y Shallow-angle dive from the side y Front and back crawl, elementary y Reach or throw, don’t go y Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and backstroke, breastroke, sidestroke and y Look before you leap begin on a front stroke butterfly y Think so you don’t sink y Tuck and pike surface dives y Standard scull y Wave, tide or ride, follow the guide y Front flip turn and backstroke flip while swimming y How to call for help and the importance of y Think twice before going near cold y Tread water knowing first aid and CPR water or ice y Recreational water illnesses LEVEL 6: SWIMMING AND SKILL PROFICIENCY Refines the strokes so participants swim them with Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that y Personal Water Safety ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater focus on preparing participants for lifetime y Fitness Swimmer distances fitness and safety, as well as more advanced y Fundamentals of Diving courses, such as Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, including competitive swimming or diving. Options include: The American Red Cross offers a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate swimming and water safety program that teaches you, your child or other family members how to swim skillfully and safely, and think and act safely in, on and around the water. The prerequisite for each level is the successful demonstration of skills from the preceeding level, except for Level 1, which has no prerequisites. .