Singapore's national water safety program introduces open water module

Singaporean parents now have the opportunity to ensure their children gain the necessary water safety knowledge and survival skills in open water through a new module, SwimSafer Open Water, launched by the National Water Safety Council (NWSC) and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC).

The SwimSafer Open Water, which is a complementary module under the national water safety program SwimSafer, equips children (and adults) with skills in open water safety, including proper swimming techniques in open water and the correct fitting of a lifejacket.

The module also educates participants on the unique risks and dangers present in open water as compared to swimming in a pool - uneven surfaces, river currents, sea undertow and the effects of changing weather - which pose challenges even for the most experienced water sports enthusiasts.

NWSC Chairman and Mayor of Singapore's North West District Dr Teo Ho Pin who officiated the launch of SwimSafer Open Water commented, "With an average of about 65% of drowning cases in Singapore occurring in open water over the last five years , SwimSafer Open Water is a highly recommended modular option for both children and adults to learn open water survival skills, especially water sports enthusiasts who spend a great deal of their time in open water."

Participants of SwimSafer Open Water will undergo practical lessons in an open water environment under the close guidance of trained instructors, who have completed the SwimSafer Open Water Instructor Course and have at least obtained a Bronze Cross award in life saving.

The SSC will continue to reach out to students engaged in water sports co-circular activities and partner grassroots organisations to encourage community involvement in SwimSafer Open Water to promote active and safe participation in water sports.

To date, more than 50,000 participants have benefitted from the SwimSafer program since it was rolled out in July 2010, with 170 out of 178 primary schools taking part this year.

NWSC and SSC have also introduced the SwimSafer Instructor Development Program to further improve the quality of the SwimSafer program and its instructors. More than 600 SwimSafer instructors will undergo periodic re-certification courses and water safety workshops to reacquaint themselves with the principles of SwimSafer, and to review the program's existing concepts and skills. The courses and workshops also serve as platforms for instructors to share best practices and techniques in instruction.

Commenting on the importance of the Program, Cory Gambardella, Deputy Director of the SwimSafer Programme at the SSC stated "our instructors are an important asset of the SwimSafer program. Through the SwimSafer Instructor Development Program, we aim to enhance their mastery of the concepts and skills of the SwimSafer program, thereby further improving the quality of the SwimSafer program to benefit all participants."

For more information go to www.singaporesports.sg/swimsafer

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