Aquatics
Do all requirements (1-9)
Embedded Files
Taking a swim on a hot summer day is one of life's great pleasures. Yet ther is more to swimming that that - a lot more. Knowing how to stay afloat in water over your head and easily move from place to place makes you - and others around you - safer. It vies you the confidence to participate in water sports where you might end up "in the drink" before you realize what hit you. Think you might enjoy motor boating, water skiing, sailing, or rafting? Does canoeing, kayaking, or snorkeling appeal to you? Then make like an otter and learn to tread water.
Of course, you need to know what you're getting into. Is that water as deep as it looks? What dangerous obstacles may lurk beneath the surface? The difference between braver and foolishness is avoiding unnecessary risks. A Trailman always follows the Safe Aquatics Method.
Being a swimmer opens the door to many exciting water sports such as rafting, canoeing, motor boating, water skiing, and kayaking. Canoeing runs the gamut from a peaceful early-morning glide on the lake to a heart-racing trip through the rapids. Sailing - especially if you sail far from shore - is not only exciting but also offers a historical link to many people who colonized America. Although your clothing and equipment may be modern, the feel of the sea beneath your boat and the unhurried rhythm of open water sailing is the same as that felt by traders, trappers, and pilgrims.
Some people enjoy the rush of a motorboat, whether they are sitting in a chair or standing on a pair of water skies. Like whitewater rafting or canoeing, raising a wake with a powerboat, requires training and concentration.
Trail Badges in these ares begin with passing the Trail Life USA Swimming Competency Test, so make up your mind to do so as soon as possible. Being comfortable in water over your head is one of the most important outdoor skills you can possess.
STEP 1
STEP 1
Research what the Bible says about water
Research what the Bible says about water
- Describe water in the creation process.
Before going right to Genesis lets take a look at a couple of other verses.
John 1:1-3 : In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Hebrews 11:3 : By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Genesis 1:1-2 : In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
It is clear everything was created by God. Water was created by God in the beginning during the creation process
- How was it used as a curse and a blessing?
Curse examples:
We see water being used for the destruction of the earth in the account of Noah and the flood.
During the 10 plagues of Egypt the water of the Nile is turned to blood.
A curse was placed on Jericho should it ever be rebuilt and when it was the water was cursed and kept the city from prospering until Elisha cleanses it.
Blessing examples:
We see accounts in the New Testament of water being a metaphor for the life that is given to us through Jesus's salvation.
John 4:13-14 : Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
- Where did all the water in the world come from? If there ever was a time where nothing existed, how could all the water come from nothing?
Genesis 1:9-10 : And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
God created from nothing.
Hebrews 11:3 : By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
- List the ways in which water sustains life on earth.
Water is a crucial element for life on Earth because it has many properties that support life processes and habitats:
Universal solvent: Water can dissolve more substances than most other liquids, which allows for chemical reactions in cells and the transport of nutrients and oxygen
Temperature regulation: Water has a high heat capacity, so it can absorb a lot of heat before its temperature rises, which helps regulate the temperature of organisms and the environment
Transport medium: Water helps transport nutrients, gases, and waste products to and from cells
Habitat: Water provides a habitat for aquatic life and supports reproduction
Biodiversity: Water supports a diverse range of species and promotes biodiversity
Ecosystems: Water is a key component of Earth's ecosystems and maintains the web of life
- List the ways that natural bodies of water (oceans, lakes, spring & rivers) are a gift to man for food, travel, and recreation to enjoy God's creation.
FOOD : Water is a gift to humans for food because it impacts what we eat, how we nourish our bodies, and how we grow our food. Without a reliable water supply, agriculture and food production are severely limited. Improving agricultural water use is a key factor in increasing food production.
TRAVEL :
Step 2
Step 2
Participate in a Safe Aquatics method orientation and fulfill the following requirements pursuant to the Safe Aquatics method.
Participate in a Safe Aquatics method orientation and fulfill the following requirements pursuant to the Safe Aquatics method.
All Trail Life USA programs must be conducted using the Safe Aquatics Method.
All adults and youth who participate in aquatic activities must have a complete and up-to-date health history on file.
All aquatics activities must have qualified and trustworthy adult supervision.
Every person must have a buddy with him at all times.
Areas approved for swimming and water games must be checked for obstacles and segregated into non-swimming (up to chest deep for your shortest non-swimmer) an swimmer area (up to 12 feet deep). An optional beginner area up to around 5-6 feet deep may also be established.
Only those who have passed their Trail Life USA swimming competency test at the swimmer level may venture into the swimmer area or participate in other aquatics activities.
All water games and other aquatics activities require a safety orientation and a skill orientation or associated trail badge before participation.
All aquatics activities other than swimming, water games, snorkeling, and scuba require the wearing of an approved personal flotation device (PFD).
Proper discipline and adherence to the pool or waterfront rules are required at all times. No horseplay!
Step 3
Step 3
Complete the Swimming Competency Test at the Swimmer level.
Complete the Swimming Competency Test at the Swimmer level.
Participants in swimming activities must demonstrate a minimum level of swimming ability. This competency may be documented using this Swim Test Form and kept on file at the Troop level or documented by a camp in a manner specified by their policies and also recorded on the “Trailman’s Swim Card” for presentation at Troop water events. This test must be completed before a Trailman can participate in aquatics activities.
1. Swimmer:
1. Swimmer:
Swim 100 yards without stops and with at least one sharp turn including the following:
Jump feet first into water over the head, level off, and begin swimming.
Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the follow strokes: side / breast / trudgen / or crawl.
Swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.
Demonstrate resting by back floating long enough to demonstrate ability to rest when exhausted.
2. Beginner:
2. Beginner:
In water that he can touch the bottom in, jump in and fully submerge head.
Swim 25 feet on the surface without either considerable strain, touching the bottom, holding onto the wall or lane lines, etc.
3. Non-Swimmer:
3. Non-Swimmer:
Can not complete either of the above swimming tests without considerable strain, touching the bottom, holding onto the wall or lane lines, etc.
Step 4
Step 4
Demonstrate how to properly put on a personal flotation device (PFD) and while wearing the PFD do the following:
Demonstrate how to properly put on a personal flotation device (PFD) and while wearing the PFD do the following:
Jump feet first into deep water and swim 25 yards.
Learn and demonstrate the heat escape lessening posture (HELP) cold-water survival technique.
The heat escape lessening position (HELP), is a way to position oneself to reduce heat loss in cold water. It involves essentially positioning one’s knees together and hugging them close to the chest using one’s arms. The HELP is an attempt to reduce heat loss enough to lessen the effect of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a condition where, essentially, bodily temperature drops too low to perform normal voluntary or involuntary functions. Cold water causes a type of this called immersion hypothermia, that can cause damage to extremities or the body’s core.
With a group, learn and demonstrate the huddle cold-water survival technique.
The huddle position is a technique that can help to conserve body heat when in cold water with a group of other people. To do the huddle position, form a tight circle holding on the person next to you with your face forward and your head out of the water.
STEP 5a
STEP 5a
Demonstrate the following reach and throw rescues:
Demonstrate the following reach and throw rescues:
Several reach assists including arm, leg, and towel reaches without entering the water, and pole or shepherd's crook assists
Several reach assists including arm, leg, and towel reaches without entering the water, and pole or shepherd's crook assists
This type of rescue is only helpful if the drowning victim is within reach of the water's edge - such as a pool's edge. The goal is to "reach" out to a person in order to perform the rescue You can perform reach assists with your arms or legs, or extend your reach with a long object such as a branch, paddle, towel, or shepherd's crook. A shepherd's crook is a long pole with a curved hook on the end. A person in trouble can grab it or it can be wrapped around an unconscious victim to save them. Most pools should have one on the wall or at a lifeguard stand.
Arm and Leg
Arm and Leg
When performing a reaching assist, keep your body low and lean back to avoid being pulled into the water. Lie face down on the edge of the pool or dock. Spread your legs to maintain a stable position. Do not extend yourself beyond a strong position of good balance; if you lean over too far, you'll fall into the water. Do not attempt to perform a reaching assist while standing. This puts you in a precarious position, and you'll likely fall into the water. Reach toward the victim and hold out your hand. Inch as far over the water as you can while maintaining a good hold on the solid edge of the pool or dock. You want to reach out your dominant hand, since you'll by using your strength to pull the victim to safety and call to the person to grab your wrist. Make sure you tell the person to grab your wrist, and not your hand or fingers, since you could accidentally let go of the victim.
Towel
Towel
A towel assist is performed the same way, except that a towel is extended to the victim. Once person grabs the towel, draw them in slowly and then perform a reach assist to bring them to safety.
Shepherd's Crook
Shepherd's Crook
Tell people to back away. Warn other people on the deck to stand away from the end of the stick in case it hits them. You don't want them to interfere with the rescue. Stand slightly away from the edge of the deck. Brace your feet in case the victim pulls on the pole. Be sure you're far enough back that you don't risk getting pulled into the water. Hold the hook where the drowning person can reach it. Call to them loudly to grab the hook. Slowly and carefully pull the victim to the side until he or she is close enough for you to use a reaching assist to pull him to the wall. If the person is unable to grab it, dip the hooked part further into the water and wrap it around the person's torso, just below the armpits. Make sure the hook is not near the person's neck, since this could lead to injury. Aim carefully as it is often difficult to see. It's okay to rescue them by the waist or even the buttocks if it works.
STEP 5b
STEP 5b
Demonstrate the following reach and throw rescues:
Demonstrate the following reach and throw rescues:
Throwing a rescue tube or ring buoy to someone at least 25 feet out in the water
Throwing a rescue tube or ring buoy to someone at least 25 feet out in the water
Use a throwing assist to rescue someone beyond your reach. Throw to the victim a buoyant object tied to a line. He or she can grasp the object and be pulled to safety. To perform a throwing assist, loosely coil the rope in your non-throwing hand. Step on the end of the rope so that you do not accidentally throw the ring away. With and underhand motion, throw the ring allowing the rope to uncoil freely from your non-throwing hand. Aim near the victim, but try not to strike him directly. A good goal is to throw the ring just past the victim, then pull it to him or her with the rope. Pull the victim to shore once he or she has been reached.
STEP 6A
STEP 6A
Tread water for 3 minutes.
Tread water for 3 minutes.
STEP 6B
STEP 6B
Survival float on your stomach for 3 minutes.
Survival float on your stomach for 3 minutes.
STEP 6C
STEP 6C
Float on your back for 2 minutes.
Float on your back for 2 minutes.
STEP 6D
STEP 6D
Demonstrate a feet-first surface dive
Demonstrate a feet-first surface dive
STEP 6A
STEP 6A
Demonstrate a head-first surface dive, and recover a diving ring or some other
Demonstrate a head-first surface dive, and recover a diving ring or some other
STEP 7
STEP 7
While wearing shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt over your swimsuit, jump into deep water.
While wearing shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt over your swimsuit, jump into deep water.
a. While treading water, remove the shoes and pants.
b. Inflate your shirt and float long enough to prepare your pants.
Pull collar up on back of neck.
Pull front of shirt up over mouth. (Keep nose out of shirt)
Fold / bunch / pinch excess shirt around mouth. This is important, without a good seal air will leak out around your neck.
Inhale through nose, exhale through mouth, into shirt.
Lean forward, to send air to the shoulder area.
Continue inflating as necessary, to stay afloat.
c. Inflate your pants and use them to float for one minute.
Start by treading water for a few moments until you calm down and can logically begin to get into action. A panicked person is not going to be able to make clothes into flotation devices but they may drown trying. Continue to tread water throughout the entire process.
Kick off your shoes. Your shoes are not going to help you float and will only serve to weigh you down. They will also hamper removing your pants, which is the first item you are going to fashion into a flotation device.
Squirm out of your pants and adapt them to float. Once your pants are off, get them in front of you while you continue to kick your legs to stay afloat. Quickly tie the end the legs into a knot and close the waist and zipper.
Still treading water, squeeze as much water as you can from the pants and then wave them over your head to fill them with air.
Once air is inside, close off the waist area underwater the best you can to keep it trapped and floating.
If you need more air, while keeping the waist underwater, dip your head underwater and blow air into the waist.
STep 8
STep 8
Demonstrate that you can continuously swim 200 yards without stopping to rest.
Demonstrate that you can continuously swim 200 yards without stopping to rest.
a. Use at least three of the following five strokes: front crawl, backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke.
b. Swim each of the three selected strokes for at least 50 yards.
FRONT CRAWL
FRONT CRAWL
BACKSTROKE
BACKSTROKE
SIDE STROKE
SIDE STROKE
BREAST STROKE
BREAST STROKE
ELEMENTARY BACKSTROKE
ELEMENTARY BACKSTROKE
STEP 9
STEP 9
Participate in a skill orientation and an open activity for three of the following aquatics activities: Group water game, swim race, diving, snorkeling, Red Cross Junior Lifeguard, scuba, stand-up paddle boarding, boardsailing, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, sailing, peddle boats, water skiing, wake boarding, or an alternate water activity approved by your unit leader.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse