Citation

Baker S. Int. J. Aquatic Res. Educ. 2018; 11(2): e4.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Bowling Green State University)

DOI

10.25035/ijare.11.02.04

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

n early summer 2017/18 almost 200 children participated in a program facilitated by Downs Little Lifeguards (http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/facilities- recreation/sport-recreation/swimming-pools-gyms/13096-downs-little- lifeguards-program) that was developed specifically to ensure that children in regional Australia were able to survive or save themselves in a range of aquatic environments. The presentation provided details on the assessment of the water competency of this cohort of swimmers from a pool environment through to open water aquatic environments with reference to the water competency framework (Stallman, Moran, Quan, & Langendorfer, 2017).

The study indicated that the participants' initial assessment of their swimming competence in a swimming pool was overestimated by 30% of the initial group and a further 33% were not able to tread water for two minutes (dressed in swimwear).

These numbers increased during transition to open water environments validating some of the research that highlighted that 74% of drowning deaths occurred within 100 kilometres of their home postcode (Stallman et al., 2017).

Smaller numbers were then introduced to open fresh water and surf conditions to determine how effective the skills learned and practiced in swimming pools were in other aquatic settings. The information obtained will be the basis of an ongoing study as part of a water safety strategy to develop water competence for children based in regional centres.

Language: en