Aquatics – Swimming and Surfing
From introductory aquatics through to lifesaving and surfing, swimming is a great activity for all ages and builds the skills required for that great Australian Summer.
How to make it happen
Take a Trip to a Public Pool
Taking a casual trip to a local public pool is a pretty easy and safe way to get into the water? Some pools will let you reserve a lane, and use various pool toys and equipment – so just ask.
Suitable for: All youth members
Hire a Private Pool
Private pools can be hired and some give you the opportunity for exclusive access
Private pool locations:
Gawler, Barossa and Adelaide Plains
Suitable for: All youth members
Swim Between the Flags
South Australia’s coastline has many great swimming beaches including Adelaide metro area, and regional locations.
Surf Life Saving’s Beachsafe website is a great resource to find popular, safe and patrolled swimming beaches. It has a heaps of info to let you decide what location will suit you best
Further Info: https://beachsafe.org.au/
Suitable for: All youth members
Moonta Bay Ocean Pool
Moonta Bay’s Ocean Pool has some exciting swim challenges to battle a bit of salt water surf to get to the pontoons.? You will need your own lifeguards but it’s surrounded by a cage to add to the safety.
Hot Tip: Get in touch with Moonta Scouts to see if you can crash in their hall
Even Hotter Tip: Copper Coast Splashtown is right next door!, its free, and runs across the Summer months
Suitable for: All youth members
Port Wakefield's Tidal Pool
Port Wakefield’s tidal pool offers the safest and most suitable swimming beach on St Vincent Gulf north of Adelaide. An arm of the Wakefield River has been dammed creating a 200 m long 50 m wide tidal pool and beach. The eastern side of the beach is bordered by a shady picnic area and playground, a car park and the caravan park, with a footbridge across to the western side which has some shade shelters.
Further Info: Port Wakefield Caravan Park
Suitable for: All youth members
District Swimming Carnivals
Some districts hold annual swimming carnivals where you can test your skills against other scouts. Why not form a project patrol, put in a bit of training, and see if you can triumphantly return home with some silverware. Project Patrols from outside the District are more than welcome!
Hills District Swimming Carnival
Suitable for: All youth members
Dates: tbc
Location: TBC
Contact: dl.events.hillstocoast@sa.scouts.com.au
Ridley District Swimming Carnival
Scouts SA Aquatics Team
For further enquiries about swimming, basic aquatics or lifesaving
Contact: oas.support@sa.scouts.com.au
Training and Skill Development
Basic aquatic training can be done through the SA Government VacSwim program
Advanced training suitable for youth members pursuing OAS Lifesaving stages 4-6, or adults supporting aquatic activities is delivered primarily through:
Scouts SA do not regularly facilitate training courses, however the OAS team is happy to coordinate participation on request.
Contact: oas.support@sa.scouts.com.au
Basic Water Rescue
This course describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to perform basic water rescues in small – medium indoor or outdoor aquatic centres.
Contents:
- Identify and evaluate aquatic emergencies.
- Apply basic water rescue principles.
- Communicate incident details.
VET Learning Outcomes:
- SISCAQU002 Perform Basic Water Rescues
- HLTAID001 Provide Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
Course Duration: 4 Hours
Cost: $70
Further Info: https://surflifesavingsacourses.com/course-details/?course_id=58213&course_type=w
Contact: reception@surflifesavingsa.com.au
Bronze Medallion
The Lifesaving Pool Award aims to teach emergency rescue techniques, swimming and survival skills, basic spinal management techniques and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The award is the minimum qualification to provide supervision at a low patronage pool, or develop a pathway to a Pool Life Guard Certificate
Contents:
- Understand the legal framework around aquatic venues
- Apply and perform basic water rescues
- Identify potential hazardous situations
- Identify and evaluate minor aquatic emergencies
- Assess possible emergency or rescue situations
- Respond to an emergency
- Organise further emergency care as required
- Record and report an incident
- Apply and perform CPR
Required Practical Demonstration
- Non swimming and swimming rescues using various equipment
- Throwing unweighted rope to person in difficulty 10m from safety within 30 secs
- Swimmming to and tow an unconscious breathing casualty 50 metres within 3mins and 15 secs
- Swimming 400 metres, using 4 different strokes, within 13 minutes
- Survival swimming dressed in trousers and long sleeved shirt.
- A search and rescue in 2 metres of water
- Management of Spinal Cord Injury in shallow water.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
VET Learning Outcomes:
- SISCAQU002 Perform Basic Water Rescues
- HLTAID001 Provide Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
Course Duration: 8 Hours
Cost: $100
Further Info: https://surflifesavingsacourses.com/course-details/?course_id=49749&course_type=w
Contact: reception@surflifesavingsa.com.au