International Life Saving Federation Page 1

Water Safety Certification Guidelines

APPENDIX 2.

ILS INTERNATIONAL WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING EDUCATION GUIDELINES

SKILL AND 6 AND 7 YEARS 7 AND 8 YEARS 8 AND 9 YEARS 9 AND 10 YEARS 10 AND 11 YEARS 11 AND 12 YEARS 12 AND 13 YEARS
KNOWLEDGE STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
SAFE ENTRY AND Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit Safe Entry and Exit
EXIT Enter and exit the Perform a slide in Perform a step in entry Safely perform a Demonstrate a safe Demonstrate a stride Demonstrate an entry
water safely and entry and exit using and exit using the compact jump, a fall in forward dive entry technique selected by
confidently the edge edge entry and exit from the examiner
deep water using the
edge
SCULLING AND Float to Stand Scull Scull – Head First Scull – Feet First Body Rotation Somersaults Eggbeater Kick
BODY Recover from a face Demonstrate Demonstrate sculling Demonstrate sculling Rotate the body about Demonstrate a Demonstrate an
ORIENTATION down float or glide to a horizontal arm sculling head first feet first on the back. the vertical and backward and a efficient eggbeater kick
standing or other actions to support the Body Rotation horizontal axes with forward somersault in without use of arms
secure position body in an upright Demonstrate rotation and without arm and the water
position with the face of the tucked body, leg action.
above the surface of keeping the face Eggbeater Kick
the water. Small above the surface of Demonstrate the
movements of the legs the water eggbeater kick to show
permitted. the basic coordination
Float to stand of the leg action. Arms
Recover from a or a kickboard may be
backfloat or back glide used for support.
to a standing or other
secure position
International Life Saving Federation Page 2
Water Safety Certification Guidelines

SKILL AND 6 AND 7 YEARS 7 AND 8 YEARS 8 AND 9 YEARS 9 AND 10 YEARS 10 AND 11 YEARS 11 AND 12 YEARS 12 AND 13 YEARS
KNOWLEDGE STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
MOVEMENT IN Movement Swim Swim Swim Swim Swim Swim
WATER AND Move through the Swim 20M using an Swim 50M using Swim continuously: Swim continuously: Swim continuously: Swim continuously:
SWIMMING water unassisted with action which actions which • 50M of stroke(s) with • 25M freestyle • 50M sidestroke • 50M butterfly or
STROKES the feet clear of the resembles a stroke resemble two or more above-water arm • 25M survival • 50M back crawl freestyle
bottom for a distance strokes. These must recovery and backstroke or • 50M breaststroke • 50M back crawl
of 3 metres. Any include at least 15M • 25M of stroke(s) with sidestroke and • 50M breaststroke
method of propulsion using an above-water underwater arm • 25M back crawl and • 50M freestyle. • 50M freestyle
is acceptable arm recovery stroke recovery. • 25M breaststroke. Efficient stroke • 50M sidestroke and
and 15M using an Recognised stroke Recognised strokes techniques should be • 50M survival
underwater arm techniques must be must be used used backstroke.
recovery stroke used Efficient stroke
techniques must be
used. All alternative
techniques are
permissible
International Life Saving Federation Page 3
Water Safety Certification Guidelines

SKILL AND 6 AND 7 YEARS 7 AND 8 YEARS 8 AND 9 YEARS 9 AND 10 YEARS 10 AND 11 YEARS 11 AND 12 YEARS 12 AND 13 YEARS
KNOWLEDGE STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
SURVIVAL SKILLS Float with Aid Survival Skills Survival Skills Survival Skills Survival Skills Survival Skills Survival Skills
Float for 30 Demonstrate the Swim 50M using Dressed in Dressed in swimwear, Dressed in swimwear, Dressed in swimwear,
seconds holding following as a actions which resemble swimwear, shorts and long pants and long long pants and long long pants, long-sleeved
a rescue flotation continuous two or more strokes. T-shirt, demonstrate sleeved shirt, perform sleeved shirt and jumper, shirt, long-sleeved
aid for support. sequence: These must include at the following as a the following as a perform the following as a jumper, shoes and socks,
Signal for help • survival sculling for least 15M using an continuous continuous sequence: perform the following as a
intermittently 30 seconds above-water arm sequence: • demonstrate survival continuous sequence. continuous sequence:
• floating for 1 recovery stroke and • sculling, floating or sculling, floating or • enter deep water using • dive and swim 10M
minute, holding a 15M using an treading water for 2 treading water for 4 feet first entry underwater
rescue flotation aid underwater arm minutes minutes • submerge feet first, • swim a further 40M
which has been recovery stroke. • swim slowly for 3 • perform a feet first swim underwater on the freestyle
thrown for support Demonstrate the minutes using the surface dive and swim back looking up at the • remove shoes while
and kick to safety following as a actions which underwater for a short surface treading water and swim
continuous sequence: resemble three distance • swim 50M quickly as if slowly 50M breaststroke
• survival sculling for 1 recognised survival • swim slowly for 6 escaping from a • float, survival scull or
minute and strokes, changing minutes using three dangerous situation and tread water for 5 minutes
• swim for 1 minute, after each minute to survival strokes, then swim 50M slowly waving one arm
holding a rescue another stroke changing after each and float using a buoyant occasionally; reassure
flotation aid which has Float with Buoyant minute from one stroke aid for 1 minute any nearby candidates
been thrown for Aid to another. • swim slowly • swim slowly for 200M
support • float for 1 minute Remove clothing in demonstrating survival using survival strokes,
using an open-ended deep water. strokes for 6 minutes changing stroke after
flotation aid thrown PFD • scull, float or tread each 50M
to the candidate Correctly fit a PFD, water for 3 minutes • remove clothing in deep
jump into the water, waving for help water.
float for 30 seconds intermittently. Clothing PFD
and then climb out of may be removed. Correctly fit a PFD while
deep water PFD treading water, swim
Correctly fit a PFD while 100M survival strokes,
treading water and swim demonstrate HELP
25M using survival technique and exit water
strokes. Exit the water wearing the PFD
International Life Saving Federation Page 4
Water Safety Certification Guidelines

SKILL AND 6 AND 7 YEARS 7 AND 8 YEARS 8 AND 9 YEARS 9 AND 10 YEARS 10 AND 11 YEARS 11 AND 12 YEARS 12 AND 13 YEARS
KNOWLEDGE STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
UNDERWATER Submerging Recover Object Underwater Swim Underwater Search
SKILLS Open eyes and Submerge and recover Surface dive, swim Demonstrate a surface
breathe out whilst an object from water of underwater and dive, swim underwater,
submerging the body chest depth recover an object from search for and recover
completely water of chest depth an object from water of

depth equivalent to the

candidate’s height
RESCUE SKILLS Be Rescued Be Rescued Reach Rescue Throw Rescue Reach Rescue Throw Rescue Throw Rescue
Grasp a rigid article or Be pulled through the Using a rigid object, Throw a rescue Using a rope, towel or Throw an unweighted Commencing with an
piece of clothing water with a rope for pull a partner to safety flotation aid to a item of clothing, pull a rope over a distance of uncoiled and
offered by a rescuer 5M to a standing partner at 5M distance partner to safety 6M to within reach of a untangled rope lying at
and be pulled to safety position of safety and instruct the partner and pull to the feet of the rescuer,
partner to kick to the safety throw a weighted rope
edge over a distance of 10M
to within reach of a
partner and pull to
safety.
Wade Rescue
Wade to and pull to
safety a partner by
using a towel or item of
clothing as an aid
International Life Saving Federation Page 5
Water Safety Certification Guidelines

SKILL AND 6 AND 7 YEARS 7 AND 8 YEARS 8 AND 9 YEARS 9 AND 10 YEARS 10 AND 11 YEARS 11 AND 12 YEARS 12 AND 13 YEARS
KNOWLEDGE STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD STANDARD
WATER SAFETY Answer questions Answer questions Answer questions Answer questions Answer questions on Answer questions on Answer questions on
KNOWLEDGE about dangers in the about dangers in the about dangers in the about dangers in the water safety and water safety and water safety and
aquatic environment aquatic environment aquatic environment aquatic environment personal survival personal survival personal survival
techniques techniques techniques indicating a
thorough
knowledge of basic
concepts
EXTENSION Butterfly Butterfly Butterfly Butterfly
SKILLS Demonstrate Swim butterfly for 10M Swim butterfly for 15M Swim butterfly for 25M
introductory butterfly demonstrating a using an efficient using an efficient
arm action for a recognisable stroke stroke and correct stroke and correct
distance of 5M and using correct breathing technique breathing technique
breathing technique