The Lifesaving Society Swim Programs
The Lifesaving Society’s Swim Program makes sure your kids are Water Smart® before they get in too deep. The Society works to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart® education, safety management services, drowning research and lifesaving sport. Annually, over 1,000,000 Canadians participate in the Lifesaving Society’s swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership training programs.
The Society certifies all of Canada’s National Lifeguards. The Society is a national, charitable organization educating Canadians since the first Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion was earned in 1896.
Lifesaving Society Swim for Life® Programs
Parent & Tot
For parents and children up to 3 years of age
Preschool
For children 3-5 years
Swimmer
For children 5 years and older
Adult Swimmer
For people over 16 years
Fitness Swimmer
For people of any age who want to improve their overall physical fitness
We have programmed the modules so they flow logically into each other and on into the basic lifesaving awards: Rookie, Ranger and Star Patrol.
Swim Levels
Preschool 1
Ages 3-5
Entries and Exits
Enter and exit shallow water (assisted)
Jump into chest-deep water (assisted)
Underwater Skills
Face in water
Blow bubbles in water
Movement / Swimming Skills
Float on front (3 sec.) assisted
Float on back (3 sec.) assisted
Safe movement in shallow water wearing PFD
Glide on front (3 m) assisted
Glide on back (3 m) assisted
Water Smart® Education
Within Arms’ Reach
Wear a Lifejacket
Preschool 2
Ages 3-5
Entries and Exits
Enter and exit shallow water wearing PFD
Jump into chest-deep water
Underwater Skills
Submerge
Submerge and exhale 3 times
Movement / Swimming Skills
Float on front 3 sec. wearing PFD or with buoyant aid
Float on back 3 sec. wearing PFD or with buoyant aid
Roll laterally front to back and back to front, wearing PFD
Glide on front 3 m wearing PFD or with buoyant aid
Glide on back 3 m wearing PFD or with buoyant aid
Flutter kick on back with buoyant aid 5 m
Water Smart® Education
Within Arms’ Reach
Wear a Lifejacket
Preschool 3
Ages 3-5
Entries and Exits
Jump into deep water wearing PFD, return and exit
Sideways entry wearing PFD
Underwater Skills
Hold breath underwater 3 sec.
Submerge and exhale 5 times
Recover object from bottom in waist-deep water
Swim to Survive® Skills
Back float; roll to front; swim 3 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Float on front 5 sec.
Float on back 5 sec.
Roll laterally front to back and back to front
Glide on front 3 m
Glide on back 3 m
Flutter kick on back 5 m
Flutter kick on front 5 m
Water Smart® Education
Within Arms’ Reach
Wear a Lifejacket
Preschool 4
Ages 3-5
Entries and Exits
Jump into deep water, return and exit
Sideways entry
Surface Support
Tread water 10 sec. wearing a PFD
Underwater Skills
Open eyes underwater
Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
Swim to Survive® Skills
Wearing a PFD, sideways entry into deep water;
Tread 15 sec.; swim/kick 5 m
Front float; roll to back; swim 5 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Glide on side 3 m
Flutter kick on front 7 m
Flutter kick on back 7 m
Flutter kick on side 5 m
Front crawl 5 m wearing PFD
Water Smart® Education
Within Arms’ Reach
Wear a Lifejacket
Preschool 5
Ages 3-5
Entries and Exits
Forward roll entry wearing PFD
Surface Support
Tread water 10 sec.
Underwater Skills
Submerge and hold breath 5 sec.
Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
Swim to Survive® Skills
Wearing PFD, sideways entry into deep water;
Tread 20 sec.; swim/kick 10 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Whip kick in vertical position (20 sec.) with a PFD or buoyant aid
Front crawl 5 m
Back crawl 5 m
Water Smart® Education
Within Arms’ Reach
Wear a Lifejacket
Swimmer 1
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Enter and exit shallow water
Jump into chest-deep water
Jump into deep water wearing PFD
Surface Support
Tread water 30 sec. wearing PFD
Underwater Skills
Hold breath underwater 5 sec.
Submerge and exhale under 5 times
Open eyes underwater
Movement / Swimming Skills
Float on front 5 sec.
Float on back 5 sec.
Roll laterally front to back and back to front
Glide on front 3 m
Glide on back 3 m
Glide on side 3 m
Flutter kick on front 5 m
Flutter kick on back 5 m
Front crawl 5 m wearing PFD
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Swimmer 2
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Jump into deep water, return and exit
Sideways entry wearing PFD
Surface Support
Tread water 15 sec.
Underwater Skills
Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
Swim to Survive® Skills
Wearing PFD, jump into deep water, tread 30 sec., and swim/kick 15 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Flutter kick on front 10 m
Flutter kick on back 10 m
Flutter kick on side 10 m
Whip kick in vertical position 30 sec. with aid
Front crawl 10 m
Back crawl 10 m
Fitness
Interval training: 4 x 5 m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Swimmer 3
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Kneeling dive into deep water
Forward roll entry into deep water
Surface Support
Tread water 30 sec.
Underwater Skills
Handstand in shallow water
Front somersault (in water)
Swim to Survive® Skills
Jump into deep water, tread 30 sec., and swim/kick 25 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Flutter kick on back 5 m; reverse direction and flutter kick on front 5 m
Flutter kick on front 5 m; reverse direction and flutter
kick on back 5 m
Whip kick on back 10 m
Front crawl 15 m
Back crawl 15 m
Fitness
Interval training: 4 x 15 m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Swimmer 4
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Standing dive into deep water
Surface Support
Tread water 1 min.
Underwater Skills
Swim underwater 5 m
Swim to Survive® Skills
Canadian Swim to Survive Standard: Roll entry into deep
water, tread 1 min. and swim 50 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Whip kick on front 15 m
Breaststroke arms drill 15 m
Front crawl 25 m
Back crawl 25 m
Fitness
Interval training: 4 x 25 m front or back crawl with 20 sec. rests
Sprint front crawl 25 m
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Swimmer 5
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Shallow dive into deep water
Tuck jump (cannonball) into deep water
Surface Support
Jump entry into deep water, and tread 2 min.
Stationary eggbeater kick 30 sec.
Underwater Skills
Back somersault (in water)
Swim to Survive® Skills
Roll entry into deep water, tread 90 sec. and swim 75 m
Movement / Swimming Skills
Breaststroke 25 m
Front crawl 50 m
Back crawl 50 m
Head-up front crawl 10 m
Fitness
Interval training: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl with
30 sec. rests
Interval training: 4 x 15 m breaststroke with 30 sec. rests
Sprint front crawl 25 m
Sprint back crawl 25 m
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Swimmer 6
Ages 5+
Entries and Exits
Stride entry into deep water
Compact jump into deep water
Surface Support
Legs-only surface support 45 sec.
Underwater Skills
Swim underwater 10 m to recover object
Movement / Swimming Skills
Eggbeater kick on back 15 m
Scissor kick 15 m
Breaststroke 50 m
Front crawl 100 m
Back crawl 100 m
Head up swim 25 m
Fitness
Interval training: 4 x 25 m breaststroke with 30 sec. rests
Sprint breaststroke 25 m
Workout (300 m)
Water Smart® Education
Swim with a Buddy
Wear a Lifejacket
Check the Ice
Swim to Survive
Rookie Patrol
Ages 8+
H2O Proficiency
Head-up front crawl or breaststroke – 25 m
Scull in ready position – 30 sec.
Carry object (2.3 kg) – 15 m
Surface dives, foot-first & head-first
Lifesaving kick – 25 m
Inflate clothing & use as buoyant assist
Obstacle swim – 25 m
Front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke – 50 m each
Fitness training: 350 m workout (3 times)
Swim 100 m in 3 min. (100 yd. in 2:40) or better
First Aid
Assess conscious victim
Contacting EMS
Care for external bleeding
Recognition & Rescue
Look & see: study aquatic facility. Turn & describe.
Simulate & recognize weak & non-swimmer
Throw aid to hit target as many times as possible – 30 sec.
Ranger Patrol
Ages 8+
H2O Proficiency
Somersault sequence, forward & backward
Stride entry & swim head-up 25 m into ready position
Eggbeater kick on back – 25 m
Support object (2.3 kg) – 1 min.
Head-up swim into surface dive & swim underwater to recover & carry object to start
Remove conscious victim
Front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke – 75 m each
Lifesaving medley – 100 m (3 times)
Swim 200 m in 6 min. (200 yd. in 5:20) or better
First Aid
Assess unconscious, breathing victim
Care for victim in shock
Care for obstructed airway – conscious victim
Recognition & Rescue
Victim simulation
Victim recognition
Victim avoidance
Rescue with buoyant aid – 20 m
Star Patrol
Ages 8+
H2O Proficiency
Entries with aids – at least 2
Entry with aid & swim head-up 25 m to ready
position. Scull forward, backward & turn.
Defence methods – front, side & rear
Eggbeater kick – travel, change direction & height
Carry object (4.5 kg) – 25 m
Remove unconscious victim with assistance
Head-up approach into head-first surface dive.
Swim underwater 5–10 m & surface. Foot-first surface dive to recover object & return to start.
Turn & support victim face-up – shallow water
Front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke – 100 m each
Fitness training: 600 m workout (3 times)
Swim 300 m in 9 min. (300 yd. in 8:00) or better
First Aid
Locate & describe submerged object
Rescue weak or non-swimmer with towing aid – 20 m
Recognition & Rescue
Look & see: study aquatic facility. Turn & describe.
Simulate & recognize weak & non-swimmer
Throw aid to hit target as many times as possible – 30 sec.
Bronze Star
Ages 8+
Bronze Star
(10 hr.): develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.
Prerequisite
None (Swim Patrol experience recommended.)
Bronze Star Exam Policy
Defines the minimum conditions under which Bronze level examinations may occur.
Bronze Star requires a body of water that is at least 15 m long, 5 m wide and a minimum of 1.5 m deep (3 m preferred).
For all Bronze exams, the minimum number of candidates is one. Additional volunteers may be required to conduct an exam; however, the volunteers may not be the Examiner conducting the exam.
Swim Conversion Chart
Not sure which level is right for your child? Our swim conversion chart can assist. Just find the vendor below and match the level with Mayfair Clubs.
Register for lessons by visiting our Swim Kids Lesson page.