SwimSafer
SwimSafer is a national water safety programme in Singapore introduced in July 2010 by the National Water Safety Council (NWSC), a council appointed by the then Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
In 2013, NWSC transferred full ownership of SwimSafer to Sports Singapore. At beginning of 2018, the SwimSafer syllabus has been revised and was replaced by the new SwimSaferTM2.0 Programme.
SwimSaferTM2.0 Programme Objectives
SwimSaferTM2.0 Programme aims to teach swimming proficiency and water survival skills to children to minimize drowning incidences in a fun manner. The six-stage programme includes survival and activity skills taught each stage of the programme, and work progressively towards the next stage. At the end of each stage, each child will receive a stage completion e-certificate.
Six Stages
Stage 1: Introduction to Water Skills
The objective is to develop confidence and independence in the water, learn general and deep end water safety. Techniques taught include the forward and backward movement, safe entry and exit and personal water safety.
Stage 2: Fundamental Water Skills
General skills development including unassisted step entry into water, sculling, feet first surface dives, personal water safety skills as well as water safety in aquatic environments. One of the goals is to achieve 25m of continuous swimming.
Stage 3: Personal and Stroke Development Skills
Entry skills such as the stride jump will be taught. Skills include sculling, underwater skills and putting on a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) whilst in water and swimming with it. One of the goals is to achieve 50m of continuous swimming.
Bronze: Personal Survival and Stroke Improvement Skills
Development of student’s stroke techniques is a focus here, along with coordinated breathing in deep water. This stage sees the introduction of throw rescues and more personal survival skills. One of the goals is to achieve 100m of a variety of strokes.
Silver: Intermediate Personal Survival and Stroke Refinement Skills
Fundamentals of diving will be introduced. Development of rescue personal survival knowledge will continue with a situational context of swimming quickly away from a sinking boat. Students will be required to demonstrate efficient stroke techniques by swimming a variety of strokes over 200m within a given time frame.
Gold: Advance Personal Survival and Swimming Skill Proficiency
Students will be required to perform a variety of strokes with efficiency over 400m within a given time frame for each stroke. Personal survival skills like making use of clothing to make a personal floatation device and swimming with them, putting on a life jacket in water and demonstrating the Heat Escape Lessening Posture technique will be taught.