Adults at Tie Lake

Do you supervise kids around the water? Whether your own or in a professional capacity? Then this half day course is for you.

After hearing the concerns of so many parents in our community (who are often not confident swimmers themselves), I realized a lot of adults are not sure about what to look for or what to do in the case of an aquatic emergency. I wanted to offer an option to learn more about the hazards and risks of open water environments in particular, as well as how to identify distressed swimmers, strategies for incident prevention and what to do to take action if necessary.

Please see the below course information from the Lifesaving Society BC.

Lifesaving Society - Safeguard Program

Description
The focus of this program is safety supervision training for guardians (e.g. day camp counselors, counselors-in-training and others) who accompany groups of young people to pools or waterfronts. The course stresses the responsibility undertaken by these group leaders for safeguarding the young people in their care even when under lifeguard supervision.

Safeguard focuses on water safety awareness, incident prevention and the principles of aquatic safety supervision.
Safeguard teaches participants how to identify hazards and at-risk behaviours, how to recognize potential victims, and how to respond safely in an aquatic emergency.
Safeguard training is designed for swimmers and non-swimmers alike.
Successful completion of the course is based on active participation in all sessions and evidence of the Must Sees in each item.

At-a-glance
Demonstrate an understanding of the following in recreational swim settings:

The importance of lifeguard supervision and the risks inherent in unsupervised settings.
Differences in the safety supervision roles of guardians (e.g., counsellors) and lifeguards.
Importance of positioning, vigilance and scanning in safety supervision.
Implications for safety supervision of guardians' personal swimming ability.
Factors contributing to drowning and Water Smart® messages that promote aquatic safety.
Demonstrate the ability to identify hazards (facility, location or environmental) and modify activities accordingly.
Demonstrate the ability to recognize distressed swimmers and drowning victims.
Demonstrate effective communication with children, fellow staff members, supervisors, lifeguards, and parents/guardians.
Demonstrate knowledge of how to use an aid to rescue a conscious victim in shallow water.

Prerequisites: None. Ideally, guardians are at least 12 years of age, able to swim, and have some lifesaving experience.

Candidate Recognition: Certification card.

Recertification: None. Annual retraining recommended.

The Details

Who

Recommended for adults, but anyone over the age of 12 may participate. Teenagers who supervise siblings around the water are welcome to join too. No swimming skills are necessary as you will not be required to get in the water.

What

Course runs for 3.5-4 hours and can be exclusively run on dry land. We will primarily be situated around the picnic tables and walking along the shoreline. Some in water simulations and demonstrations will be included to learn more practically about victim recognition, hazards and low risk rescue skills (i.e. I will get in the water to demonstrate, and another few volunteers are welcome to join me).

While this course does include 5 specified items to pass (safety supervision, site analysis, victim recognition, communication, and low risk rescue knowledge and skills), it is designed as an informative and practical course that every participant should be successful in.

When

This course will be offered in June, just before Summer swim lessons start up. Several options will be offered between June 25 and July 2, and date(s) will be chosen depending on participant availability and demand. Course time will most likely be 12pm - 4pm, with a brief break in the middle.

Where

Tie Lake: The closest address for Google maps is: 6399 Tie Lake Rd, Jaffray, BC V0B 1T0.

Heading West, turn right off the highway opposite the Shell gas station onto Tie Lake Road. Follow the main road until you reach the picnic area (marked Tie Lake Regional Park on Google maps). Do not turn right to the camping/recreation site. The road is paved right to the end, where you will find a large looped parking area and several scattered toilets, changing rooms and picnic tables available to use.

Please note: this course is held outdoors on a public beach – there is no affiliation with Tie Lake Regional Park or RDEK.

Investment

Cost is $50 per person plus 5% GST (Total: $52.50). Minimum 6 to run, up to 12 max.