swimming and water safety news...position for at least 15 seconds, swimming on front and/ or back...

We’re proud to offer you:

•ProfessionalinstructorswhoarewelltrainedbytheAmericanRedCross.

•Learningmadefuninasafeenvironment.

•Abalancedprogramthatteachesswimmingskillsandhowtobesafeinthewater,includingafocusonlower-ingtheriskofdrowningandincreasingthechancesofdrowningsurvival.

•Acomprehensiveswimmingandwatersafetyprogramforeveryoneinthefamily—frominfancytoadulthoodincluding:

◦ AfreeRedCrossSwimmobileapplicationavailablefordownloadfromiTunes,GooglePlayorAmazonMarketplaceappstores.

◦ Swim Lessons Achievement Bookletstotrackskillachievementandprogressionthroughthelevels.

◦ Badgesystemtorecognizeandrewardachievementoutsideofthelevels,motivatingparticipantstostrivetowarddevelopingspecificskillsandforrecognizingparticipantsforsomethingthattheyaredoingwell,especiallywhentheyarestrugglingwithaspecificskillorsetofskillsneededtosuccessfullycompletethelevel.

What happens in Learn-to-Swim Level 2?Level2—FundamentalAquaticSkillsbuildsonskillslearnedinLevel1.Yourchildbeginstoperformskillsataslightlymoreadvancedlevelandbeginsgainingrudimentarypropul-siveskillsonboththefrontandtheback.Thislevelmarksthebeginningofindependentaquaticlocomotionskills.

Ourinstructorsfollowaplantointroducenewswimmingandwatersafetyskillsandbuildonpreviouslylearnedskills,includingthedevelopmentofwatercompetency(the

S W I M M I N G A N D W AT E R S A F E T Y N E W S

Welcome to American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 2!The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim is made up of six levels of swimming and water safety instruction. We are thrilled that your child is ready for the

fun and challenge of Learn-to-Swim Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills. As participants progress through the levels and develop these aquatic skills, they

become safer and better swimmers.

Learn-to-Swim Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills

basicminimumskillsneededforwatersafety).Eachclassisloadedwithfun,engagingandchallengingactivitiesthatmotivatechildrentowanttoperformandlearntoswim.

SomeofthemilestonesthatarenecessaryforsuccessfulcompletionofLevel2include:

•Steppingfromthesideintochest-deepwater.

•Fullysubmergingandholdingbreath.

•Pushingoffthebottom,movingintoatreadingorfloatingpositionforatleast15seconds,swimmingonfrontand/orbackfor5bodylengthsandthenexitingthewater.

•Movingintoabackfloatfor15seconds,rollingtofrontandthenrecoveringtoaverticalposition.

•Pushingoffandswimmingusingcombinedarmandlegactionsonfrontfor5bodylengths,rollingtoback,float-ingfor15seconds,rollingtothefrontandthencontinueswimmingfor5bodylengths.

Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket.Wheneveryougoboating,alwayswearaproperlyfittingU.S.CoastGuard-approvedlifejacket.Besuretoputitonbeforeyougooutonthedockanddonottakeitoffuntilyoureturn.

Know how to call for help.Ifalifeguardoranadultisnotnearby,useaphoneandcall9-1-1orthelocalemergencynumber.

Know who the life-guards are. Onlyswiminareaswherethelifeguardcanseeyou.Remember,ifyoucanseethelifeguard,then,thelifeguardcanseeyou.

BE A WATER SMART FAMILY!

Takesometimethroughoutthesessiontotalkwithyourchild’sinstructortofindouthowyourchildisdoing.Attheendofthesession,yourinstructorwilldate,signandprovidecommentsonyourchild’sSwim Lessons Achievement Booklet.Onceyourchildhassuccessfullycompletedalloftherequirementsforalevel,thereisanotherspacefortheinstructortoindicatethatyourchildisreadytoenrollinthenextlevel.

Where do swimmers go after Level 2?Aftersuccessfullydemonstratingthecompletionrequire-mentsfromLevel2,enrollyourchildinLearn-to-SwimLevel3.InLearn-to-SwimLevel3—StrokeDevelopment,yourchildwillcontinuetoperformskillstoworktowardwatercompe-tencyandlearnthe:

•Survivalfloat.

•Frontcrawl.

•Elementarybackstroke.

•Scissorskick.

•Fundamentalsoftreadingwater.

•Progressionsforheadfirstentriesfromthesideofthepoolinasittingpositionandkneelingposition.

How are Level 2 Learn-to-Swim participants evaluated?Instructorsfollowaplanthatdetailstheskillstobeintro-ducedateachlevelalongwithperformanceexpectations.Yourchild’sprogressandskillachievementarecontinu-ouslymonitoredandevaluated.OnceallLevel2skillsareachievedandtheexitskillsassessmentiscompleted,yourchildreceivesacompletioncardandheorsheisreadytomoveontoLevel3!

P A R E N T ’ S C O R N E R

How can you help?

•Supportyourchildbypraisinghisorhereffortinthepool.

•Bringahealthysnackanddrinkforyourchildforafterthelessontoreplacefluidsandenergy.

•Rememberthatchildrendevelopswimmingskillsatdiffer-entrates.Manychildrenneedtorepeatalevelmultipletimestocompletealloftheskills.Donotgetdiscouraged;continuetoofferpraiseandencouragement.

•Asktheinstructorwhichskillsyourchildshouldreview,andthenmakepracticingathomeoratyourlocalpoolfun!

How can you build on your child’s swimming experience?

•Takeyourchildtopublicorfamilyswimstodevelopstrength,practiceskills,gainconfidenceandincreasehisorhercomfortlevelinthewater.

•Askyourchildtoshowyouaskilllearnedinswimlessonsandincorporatetheskillintoagametoplayinthepool.

•DownloadtheRedCrossSwimmobileapplicationanduseittohelpencourageyourchild’sprogressandknowledgeaboutwatersafety.Alsousetheapptoshareyourchild’sprogressandsuccesses.

•Maintainasafety-firstattitudeandfollowtheAmericanRedCrossCircleofDrowningPrevention.