A Swim to Survive class practicing some of the skills they learned. Submitted photo

Raina Watson
Co-op Student

Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, one second you're on shore, the next you could be in the water and the fall going in can be disorientating. Not knowing which way is up is one of the biggest problems when experiencing an accidental fall into deep water.

Barbra Underhill, an Olympic figure skating champion learned this after she experienced the loss of her daughter, Stephanie, to a tragic drowning accident in May of 1993. After the accident Underhill started the Stephanie Gaetz Keepsafe Foundation and teamed up with the Lifesaving Society in 2005 to create a program designed to teach children from a young age crucial drowning prevention skills. The program was named Swim to Survive.

Swim to Survive started in Mississauga, Ontario but now runs all across Canada in almost every town that has a pool in which to practice. But just in our area alone the Swim to Survive program has taught approximately 700 kids the important skills that could end up saving their lives.

"They get safety, fitness, and fun in the program while still focussing on necessary drowning prevention skills,” said Shanna Reid, Aquatic Supervisor at the Port Elgin Centennial Pool.

The program is simple: Roll. Tread. Swim; and it is based on drowning statistics that indicate that most individuals who drown didn’t intend to go into the water and face disorientation at the point of entry.

The program starts by teaching kids how to effectively roll into the water, getting themselves right side up; then to tread water for one minute to keep their heads above the surface; and lastly they learn to swim 50 meters in any form they feel most comfortable as most drownings occur less then 10 metres from the safety of land.

Along with the Swim to Survive program there is also Swim to Survive Plus which is offered to Grade 7 and 8 students and teaches kids how to roll, tread, and swim with clothes on as well as how they to help a friend safely in the event of an accidental fall into the water.

Locally the program takes place at the Port Elgin Centennial Pool and is open to Grade 3 and 4 students from the area. It runs throughout the year with each school attending three separate sessions, an hour each day. The classes, organized by Centennial Pool staff member Tessa Alpaugh, who also helps to teach the course to students, is free of charge to students thanks to sponsors who make monetary donations as well as donate items such as life jackets.

Just one of the Swim to Survive classes gearing up for the next part of their lesson. Submitted photo