City of Belleville Recreation, Culture & Community Services was thrilled to receive notification from Lifesaving Society announcing the City’s application for a Swim to Survive® School Program grant has been approved. The grant monies help offset the busing and staffing costs with the City donating the pool time.
The Lifesaving Society letter stated: “Congratulations. The Lifesaving Society has approved your application of $18,640.00 for a Swim to Survive® School Program grant to reach 1165 children. The Swim to Survive School Program is a unique Lifesaving Society drowning prevention initiative and we are pleased that you will play an important role in delivering this survival training across the province.”
The Society defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. These are expressed in a skill sequence in the Canadian Swim to Survive standard: roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and swim 50 metres. Geared to grade three students, the Swim to Survive® Program has been offered by the City since 2012, training 5,555 students in the program to date.
“The City of Belleville was recognized in the Lifesaving Society’s 2017 Annual Report with the ‘Swim to Survive Award’, which is presented to affiliate members and their board of education partners who provide Swim to Survive training to 80% or more of their target populations,” said Tanya Grierson, Recreation Program Supervisor. “We reached 99% of the grade three students in the City of Belleville.”
To build on the skills taught in the Swim to Survive® Program, there is a Swim to Survive Plus® Program. This program is designed to present real-life situations for grade seven students. Participants learn to: roll, tread and swim with clothes on, how to help a friend in deep water without putting themselves in danger (talk, reach, throw), and basic physical fitness concepts through interval training and a fitness swim. The City of Belleville offers this program for grade seven students.
“A special note of appreciation to our Aquatics Team,” added Director, Recreation, Culture and Community Services, Mark Fluhrer. “They are deeply committed to teaching students these imperative life-saving skills. The parents have been extremely supportive, a clear indication these programs are valued and respected in our waterfront community.”
Schools interested in having their grade three or grade seven classes participate in the Swim to Survive® and Swim to Survive Plus® programs please email: rccsgeneral@city.belleville.on.ca
