Irish Water Safety s School Swimming Guidelines

Irish Water Safety s School Swimming Guidelines

Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Responsibilities 4 School 4 School Teachers 4 Special Needs Assistants 5 Qualified Swimming Teachers, Instructors or Examiners 5 Lifeguards 5 Duty of Care 6 3. Teacher to Pupil Ratios 6 4. Lifeguard Provision 6 5. Qualifications 7 School Teachers 7 National Aquatics Pool Organiser Award 7 National Aquatics Pool Assistant Award 7 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) 7 Basic Introduction to Water Safety & Teaching for Special Needs Assistants (SNA) 7 6. National Curriculum 8 Aquatics 8 Hygiene 8 Water Safety 8 Water Entry and Exit 8 Buoyancy and Propulsion 9 Stroke Development 10 Water-based ball games 10 Understanding and Appreciation of Aquatics 10 7. Conditions of Hire 11

8. Pool User s Equipment 11 Swimming Goggles 11 Play Equipment 12 Floats/Woggles 12 Play Balls 12 Weighted Rings/Blocks 13 9. Child Protection 13

1. Introduction Irish Water Safety is the statutory voluntary body established to promote water safety in Ireland. Irish Water Safety s focus is on Public Awareness and we strive to reduce fatalities and accidents in and around water but increasing water safety awareness, changing attitudes and behaviours so that our aquatic environments can be enjoyed with confidence and safety. Irish Water Safety have developed and published a range of resources for teachers, parents and children. They have also been involved in various teacher training programmes including Teacher Summer In-Service Programmes and linked to Teaching Training Colleges. Since the inclusion of Aquatics on the Primary School Physical Education Curriculum, Irish Water Safety in conjunction with the Department of Education developed the PAWS Programme (Primary Aquatics Water Safety). It is exclusive to and available to all schools. Irish Water Safety aims to reduce the number of drownings in Ireland each year by familiarising the public with water safety best practice. The aim of this document is to provide guidelines and advice on safe practices when delivering school swimming programmes. 2. Responsibilities School: There should be a swimming co-ordinator appointed within the school. The swimming coordinator should liaise with the swimming facility. They are tasked with organising transport to and from the swimming facility. They should ensure the rules of the facility are followed at all times. It is their responsibility to inform the swimming teacher of any necessary details e.g. special needs, medical conditions. The swimming co-ordinator should also be involved in monitoring and evaluating the swimming programme. They are responsible for ensuring all swimming teachers are suitably qualified. They should also be responsible for maintaining and updating child protection procedures. School Teachers: Teachers have a duty of care to the pupils, which cannot be transferred to any other individual and is applicable for all school activities. It applies to all activities on the school curriculum and extra curriculum activities organised by the school. In relation to school teachers are responsible for: Appropriate supervisions of children while changing. Control of the pupils at all times.

Completing a head count both prior to and after each session. Observing and monitoring the pupils and their conduct. The school teacher must be present for the duration of the swimming class. Special Needs Assistants: Special Needs Assistants, employed by the Department of Education and Science can provide support in the delivery of school swimming lessons. They can be involved in supporting the work of teachers, supervise changing, administer first aid (if qualified) and look after any unwell children and children not participating in swimming. School teachers cannot transfer their duty of care to the SNAs. Special Needs Assistants who have swimming teaching qualifications can be involved in the delivery of swimming programmes. If a Special Needs Assistant has to get into the water with a specific pupil it is recommended that they have an appropriate dress code, and may choose to wear a t-shirt and shorts over their bathing costumes. Qualified Swimming Teachers, Instructors and Examiners: Qualified swimming personnel may be employed by the swimming facility or the school itself. They have the responsibility to ensure safe practices are followed for each class and to ensure the safe conduct of the class both in the water and on the deck. These personnel are also responsible for: Co-ordinating with teachers to check numbers of pupils before, during and after swimming lessons. Testing pupils for and streaming the pupils according to swimming ability. Familiarising themselves with the Normal Operating Procedures (NOPs) and Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) in the facility. Enforcing emergency drills. Working with lifeguards on duty, if there are no lifeguards, providing lifesaving and first aid skills on their own or with others. Affect a rescue if necessary. A fully qualified teacher and/or instructor must be present on the deck when swimming lessons are being delivered. Lifeguards: During swimming lessons there must be someone present with appropriate lifeguarding, rescue and first aid skills.

The lifeguard must: Correct supervision of the pool. Exercise an appropriate level of control over users. Apply the principles of preventative lifeguarding. Take appropriate action during incidents. Perform rescues. Treat suspected cases of suspected spinal injury. Provide First Aid, within the scope of one s qualifications. Provide Basic Life Support if necessary. Provided advanced Life Support if trained to do so e.g. AED, Oxygen etc. If a swimming teacher is responsible for lifeguarding they should not work alone. Duty of Care: School teachers have a duty of care to the pupils which is non transferrable. The school is responsible for ensuring the personnel used for teaching swimming are suitable qualified. They must ensure the programme is adequate and appropriate for the pupils and the school. 3. Teacher to Pupil Ratios: School Swimming Lessons: Primary Aquatics Water Safety: Recommended Teaching Ratios Indoor: 20:1* * If pupils have no swimming ability the recommended teaching ratios should be reduced as follows: Non-swimmers and beginners: 12:1 4. Lifeguard Provision Currently there is no statutory requirement for a lifeguard to be provided. However, Irish Water Safety recommends that a lifeguard is provided. The number of lifeguards recommended depends of the size of the pool and the number of pool users. The lifeguard shall hold a qualification recognised by Irish Water Safety and be a minimum of 16 years of age.

Irish Water Safety recommends that when only one appropriately qualified lifeguard is on duty, suitably trained back up must be available and easily contacted. IWS/ILAM Ireland National Pool Lifeguard Award: This award enables candidates to act as a designated lifeguard, trained in Pool Rescue, and Basic Life Support Techniques. He/She will also have an awareness of First Aid and Pool Water Analysis. Lifeguard Certification is awarded at either of two levels. Level 1: certificates are awarded to those who are judged to be competent to supervise swimming pools or sections of a swimming facility, where the water depth does not exceed 1.5m. Level 2: certificates are awarded to those who are judged to be competent to supervise areas of water in a swimming facility where depths are greater 1.5m. 5. Qualifications The school is responsible for ensuring that any teacher or instructor responsible for the delivery of school swimming programmes is appropriately qualified. School Teachers: Aquatics is different to other modules as it involves liaison with other qualified personnel. School teachers possess a range of skills and knowledge which enable them to deliver a wide range of subjects to pupils. If a school teacher has specific responsibility for a group or groups of swimmers the teacher should hold an appropriate qualification e.g. Swim Teacher Award. Irish Water Safety offers specific courses to trainee Primary School Teachers and fully Qualified School Teachers. National Aquatics Pool Organiser Award: This award gives Primary Teachers knowledge of Water Safety which can be taught to Primary School Children in the classroom. Candidates shall participate in a course of not less than 6 hours theory with continuous assessment by tutor(s). Candidates being assessed must have attended for at least 75% of the course. National Aquatics Pool Assistant Award: This award ensures that Pool Assistants possess a basic knowledge and skills that enable them to work with fully qualified Swim Teachers in the teaching of the Aquatics programme for Primary Schools. Candidates will have previously completed the National Aquatics Pool Organiser Award. Candidates shall participate in a course of not less than four hours theory, 4 hours Basic Life Support and 6 hours practical, including water work and teaching classes from the bank of the pool, with continuous assessment by tutor(s) and final assessment by an Irish Water Safety Examiner. Special Needs Assistants: Irish Water Safety offers an award to Special Needs Assistants.

Basic Introduction to Water Safety and Teaching Swimming for Special Needs Assistants (SNA): This award equips Special Needs Assistants with the basic knowledge, understanding and awareness of water safety and the teaching of swimming. 6. National Curriculum The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) are tasked with the responsibility of developing all curricula. The Aquatics Strand of the Primary School Physical Education Curriculum is a generic curriculum (Junior Infants to Sixth class) and is divided into 7 strand units. The Curriculum is laid out as follows: Strand: Aquatics Strand Unit: Hygiene Appreciate the importance of hygiene when using the pool Strand Unit: Water Safety Using the footbath, shower, toilet Keeping the pool area clean Observe the rules of the local pool Recognise the hazards of water Depth, Currents, Tides, Weather Conditions, Pollution, Hypothermia Identify correct procedure for dealing with hazards Practising personal survival skills (e.g. safe entries, HELP, huddle, treading water) Summoning assistance in an emergency while maintaining own safety Demonstrating on land or in the pool environment a reaching and throwing rescue Strand Unit: Entry to and Exit from Water Enter the water

Using the steps or ladder By sitting, turning and slipping into the water By stepping in from the poolside By stepping in and placing the face in the water with comfort: Blowing bubbles while mouth is in the water Picking up lightweight objects from the bottom of the pool with the eyes open Looking at a partner under water By jumping into the water By diving in: surface or plunge dive (sitting, crouching, diving) Climb out of water Using steps Strand Unit: Buoyancy and Propulsion Walk in shallow water Getting out with support Going directly onto the side Walk making patterns Walking to a rhythm, changing direction on a heavy beat Negotiating a person or obstacle Jump, side-step or run across the pool Relay races: children jump or side step or run across the pool Observe that some objects float and others sink Blowing, nosing or heading objects (ball, toy ducks) around floating objects Practice balance, rotation and recovery exercises with and without float Regaining standing position from the prone or supine position Rolling over from the prone or supine position

Floating forming wide and narrow shapes in the prone or supine position Linking shapes to form sequences Floating in mushroom shape Turning through 360 horizontally or vertically Explore use of arms and legs to travel in water Kicking like a frog Playing Simon Says game, where activities are matched to abilities Practising sculling in prone or supine position, head first, feet first Chasing games (e.g. What time is it Mr. Shark?) Glide forward or backwards along the surface in a stretched position Glide to the bottom of the pool Strand Unit: Stroke development Develop a selection of swimming strokes Strand Unit: Water-based games Frontcrawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly Participate in pair and group play Throwing and catching a ball, including using a one arm throw Over and under game, where a ball is passed along a line over heads and under legs Water push ball Strand Unit: Understanding and Appreciation of Aquatics Understand basic hygiene procedures Appreciate the dangers of water Understand how to stay safe in water

Develop an increased understanding of floatation Develop and appreciation of the freedom of movement of water Extend knowledge of swimming strokes Discuss a wide range of aquatic activities Water polo, synchronised swimming, lifesaving Become aware of local organisations and clubs that promote aquatics 7. Conditions of Hire Pool operators are tasked with ensuring the school use the pool in a safe manner. There should be a document drafted prior to the school hiring the pool, this will include: Name and address of School Name and address of Pool Number of school teachers accompanying pupils Approximate number of pupils attending Number of swimming teachers/instructors Duration of programme (weeks) Duration of lessons (minutes) Rules of the pool Any information from NOP and EAP that is relevant Irish Water Safety recommends that there is a Designated Liaison Person appointed to ensure Child Protect Procedures are followed. 8. Pool Users Equipment Swimming Goggles Swimming Goggles are used by the majority of pool users. They are used for comfort and to protect the user s eyes from the chlorine in the water. Like all equipment they have associated risks: Injuries around the eye area from putting on goggles in an incorrect manner. Injure other people if the wearer is engaging in robust activities or rough play.

Play Equipment Impaired vision if the goggles are not fitted correctly, this can lead to impact injuries. Play equipment can be used for fun games in the water or to develop aquatic skills. The following safety guidelines should be adhered to: Floats/Woggles Never allow the use of glass equipment. Provide adequate signage to indicate when and where equipment may and may not be used. Check equipment for safety on a regular basis. Some types of equipment e.g. inflatable arm bands, should be examined before each use. Small toys should not be less than 7mm to eliminate risk of choking. Safety checks shall ensure conformity to minimum safety standards. Ensure equipment being used in appropriate to the age of those using it. Equipment shall only be used under proper supervision. Floats and Woggles have very positive uses in the teaching and development of swimming. Pool operators and lifeguards should be aware of the following: Play Balls Users sometimes bite floats, which leads to risk of choking. Abusing floats can result in pieces blocking inlets and outlets, which can lead to problems for the water treatment system. The use of floats can give rise to a false sense of confidence in the water, this may encourage users into deep water. Floats should be stored securely to control their use and ensure the pool deck in free from obstructions. These are used in water confidence exercise with beginner. There are some dangers associated with them: Ball throwing games in the swimming pool may lead to rough play, with particular danger for poor/weak or non swimmers. Timid swimmers may panic if trying to avoid being hit with the ball. Swimming after a ball into deep water presents dangers to weaker swimmers. The excitement of getting to the ball may have a detrimental effect on the swimmers when assessing dangers.

Small balls must at least 7mm in diameter to minimise the risk of choking. Balls must be suitable for the age group for which they are being used. Weighted Rings/Blocks These are used to develop water confidence, surface dive techniques and early diving practices. They should only be used when: Water depths are appropriate and suitable for use and ability level. The bottom of the pool is visibly clear. The area being used is clear from other users. Safe spacing is being implemented between users. 9. Child Protection Irish Water Safety accepts that organisations, which in clued young people among its members, are vulnerable to the occurrence of child abuse. Below are the procedures for dealing with any welfare or protection issue that may arise. Child welfare and the protection of young people is the concern of all adults at all times, irrespective of their role within the organisation. If there are grounds for concern see IWS Code of Ethics and Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children s Sport, page 41 about the safety or welfare of a young person you should react with concern. Persons unsure about whether or not certain behaviours are abusive and therefore reportable should contact the duty social worker of the local health board or social services department. Where they will receive advice. Grounds for concern include a specific indication from a child, a statement form a person who witnessed abuse or an illness, injury or behaviour consistent with abuse. A report may be made by any member at the class but should be passed on to the Designated Liaison Person who may in turn have to pass the concern to the local Statutory Authorities. It is not the responsibility of anyone working within Irish Water Safety in a paid or voluntary capacity, or those working in affiliated organisations, to take responsibility or decide whether or not child abuse is taking place. That is the job of the local statutory authorities. However, there is a responsibility to protect children by assisting the appropriate agencies so that they can then make enquiries and take any necessary action to protect the young person.