On a prescribed open water environment such as beach area, leisure pool, river and lake and surf, this course covers the knowledge, skills and technique in performing long distance swim in six (6) different swimming and lifesaving strokes, run, surface dive and underwater swim to recover a submerged victim. Understanding Open Water hydrology is studied such as in river -currents, crumbling banks, uneven and unsafe beds and submerged obstacle, in lakes – entry point from a river, cold water and waves and in beach and surf – waves and rip currents.
Actual performance in open water swim is checked out and rated with end goal of benchmarking at least 16 minutes for an 800 meters distance swim using prescribed strokes, in 6 minutes to demonstrate a combination of 200 meters run, 200 meters swim and 200 meters run, do surface dive and underwater swim at a distance of 25 meters as well as the conduct of surface dive and recover objects underwater.
Open Water Swimming and Rescue Course is a pre-requisite course to specialized courses for lifeguards in the Beach, Inland (River & Lakes) Swift Water and Surf environments.
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I. Review of the different open water environments, including its potential dangers that one should know in the area:
- Beach and surf can be dangerous because of plunging, spilling, surging waves and tidal, runback and rip currents.
- River, creeks and waterholes can be dangerous because of current, crumbling banks, uneven and unsafe river beds and submerged obstacles.
- Lake and dams could be dangerous because of river entry points, cold water, waves
- Leisure pools at water parks could be dangerous because of large crowds (Young children, elderly and non-swimmers) exposure to man-made swift waters similar to rivers and even floods which are having varied depths and slippery surfaces on edges.
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II. Review the elements of stroke, proper warm-up and cooling down procedures and their usefulness to open water rescue
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III. Evolution on fitness level for open water environment
- Practice swimming using prescribed strokes at current best time and gradually achieving time of 20 minutes for an 800 meters swim at open water.
- Demonstrate 200-meter run; 200-meter swim; and 200-meter run in an open water environment using freestyle and breaststroke with the goal of achieving run-swim-run total time of 6 minutes.
- Perform surface dive and underwater swim at a distance of 25 meters.
- Practice recovering objects placed underwater simulating an underwater rescue assistance.
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IV. Study swift water and flooding hydrology
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V. Plan out crossing rivers or floods
- Locate Hazards at Swift Water
- Timing and preparing to cross
- Crossing solo techniques (Body position, side shuffle, tripod method)
- Crossing with a group
- Correcting from a fall
- Avoid swimming against current until close enough to the bank for safety exit
- Share your float plan: where you are going, the detailed route, your plan departure, and expected return time.
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VI. Gear recommendations
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Course Features
- Duration : 20 day
- Max Students : 999
- Enrolled : 0
- Re-take Course : 0
- Assessments : Self