Water Safety Lesson Plan

• Objectives
• Materials
• Introduction
• Presentation
• Application
• Summary
• Test
• Assignment

Objectives:

• Students will be able to recite the two most important safety rules
• Students will be able to list in order the safe way for them to make a rescue
• Students will be able to describe a rip current and explain what to do if they get caught in one
• Students will be able state the rule that is important to reduce neck injuries
• Students will be able to demonstrate the stingray shuffle

Materials:

• San Diego Lifeguard Service Crossword Puzzle
• San Diego Lifeguard Service Overhead Transparency "A Rip Current"
• California Department of Boating and Waterways Activity Book
• California Department of Boating and Waterways AquaSmart Video

Introduction:

• "How many of you are going to the beach this summer?" Did you know that lifeguards make thousands of rescues each summer?" Lets discuss how you can have a safe day at the beach.

Presentation:

The best way to stay safe is to abide by the three most important water safety rules.

1. Always swim near a lifeguard. Very seldom does anything serious happen to people who are swimming in front of staffed lifeguard stations. To reinforce this tell students that after every time you say "Remember", they are to whisper (or yell) "Always swim near a lifeguard!"



2. At home, your parents are your lifeguards. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death of children. Most of these deaths take place in swimming pools and bathtubs. Go home and tell your parents that they're lifeguards.



3. 9-1-1 works for lifeguards too.  Emergencies involving water should be called in on the 9-1-1 system any time life or limb is threatened.

Who can save a life? Anyone can. The key is to not get in trouble yourself.

Activity - Set up four chairs in the front of the room in the seating arrangement you would find in a small boat. Have four pieces of orange construction paper cut out in the form of a bib. These represent life vests. Select four children to be in the boat. Have each one put on a life vest and select one to be the driver. Have them sit in the boat and tell them their out at sea. Have the whole class sing the first few verses of the Gilligan's Island theme song.

"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailing man, the skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour, a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough the tiny ship was tossed..."
(Have one fall out of the boat).
"if not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost
the Minnow would be lost"

Discuss the different ways to rescue the person. Remind the would be rescuers about the importance of calling 9-1-1 if possible.  Tell them that an easy way to remember how to help someone without risking your own life is the phrase "Reach, Throw, and Row. In other words;

Reach - Extend a branch or an oar. By being securely on land you can be the most help.

Throw - If the person needing help is too far away, throw a floating object to them such as a life vest or a beach ball. This will keep them afloat while another plan is being developed.

Row - If you have access to a boat and you know how to use it, row over to the person and help them aboard.

Ocean conditions play a big part in keeping lifeguards busy. Eight out of every ten people rescued along the California coastline are those who get caught in rip currents. They're not rip tides because they have very little to do with tidal action and they are not undertows because they don't pull people underwater but they can be dangerous if you don't know what to look for. Show overhead. Explain current is running out to sea but the current is very narrow. Swimmers who know this can easily swim parallel to shore and then swim in.

Rip currents are easy to spot. Just look for the areas with little or no surf. That's because the water is deeper in a rip current area and the swells are less likely to break in deeper water. Surfers use rip currents just like downhill skiers use ski lifts. They can be very helpful if used correctly.

Every year many people suffer serious neck injuries because they didn't pay attention to the important water safety rule "Look Before You Leap"

Activity - Have a child stand up on a chair with a small bowl of water on the floor directly below them. Tell the child that no matter what, don't jump and hold on to him/her. In a ringleader's voice announce, "Ladies and Gentleman, children of all ages, Roberto is going to thrill us with a death defying leap into this small bowl of water. Lets count down from 5. 5,4,3,2,1...silence, laughter. Ask Roberto why he didn't jump. Roberto will say it was too shallow. This is the time to remind everyone that any water you're not sure about can be just as shallow and you don't want to find out with your head!

Dangerous marine animals can be found on many beaches. Everyone should check with their local lifeguard to learn what to look out for in their area. Along the California coast, for instance, their are stingrays. Stingrays are small flat fish that bury themselves in the sand and wait for a meal to swim by. They're only dangerous to people when we step on them. Then they have no choice but to swing their barbed tail around and sting the foot that's standing on them. To avoid stingrays you can do the stingray shuffle.

Activity - Put some music on with a good beat and have the whole class do the stingray shuffle. Simply slide to the left and slide to the right. In fact, slide any direction you want! Just keep your feet on the ground and give the stingrays a chance to get away.

• Application- As soon as the children go home, they should tell their parents what they learned. Tell them that all parents are lifeguards. Talk about swimming in front of a lifeguard. Tell all they know about rip currents, stingrays, and life vests.

• Summary - Water can be a great deal of fun or it can be very dangerous. Its up to you to decide which one. There are lots of things we can do to make our trip to the beach, lake, or swimming pool an enjoyable one.

• Test - Hand out the crossword puzzle or play that popular game "Name That Safety Tip". Select three contestants, sit them in three chairs in the front of the class, and have a prize ready. Ask them the following questions:

1. When in the water, the most important rule is to always swim near a
   a. aircraft carrier
   b. lifeguard
   c. dock
   d. hot air balloon
   
   
   
2. When riding in a boat you should always wear a
   a. ham sandwich
   b. anchor
   c. life vest
   d. boa constrictor
   
   
   
3. Before jumping in the water you should
   a. tie the string on your bathing suit
   b. have your mom take a picture
   c. look before you leap
   d. run away
   
   
   
4. When boating, the most important thing to do is
   a. take as many passengers as possible
   b. make everyone side on one side
   c. know the rules before you cruise
   d. leave the life vests on shore for your friends
   
   
   
5. The dance that will keep you from being stung by a stingray is
   a. the rumba
   b. the tango
   c. the twist
   d. the stingray shuffle

The person getting the most right answers wins the prize and everyone goes home safer individuals.

Assignment - Next time the students see a lifeguard, they should ask them how the swimming conditions are. Next time they ride in a boat they should wear their life vests.