Swim Safer Programme
SwimSafer was introduced in July 2010 by the National Water Safety Council (NWSC), a council appointed by then the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
SwimSafer was enhanced in 2018 to better equip participants with more rigorous water survival and swimming competency skills. The enhanced SwimSafer 2.0 programme comes with a revised learning syllabus and assessment criteria. Instructors were also put through enhanced training and re-certification.
SwimSafer 2.0 is the National Water Safety Programme designed to emphasize the importance of safety around aquatic environments. The programme aims to teach swimming proficiency and water survival skills in a fun manner. There are 6 progressive levels. Upon successful completion of each stage, an e-certificate will be issued to each participant.
SwimSafer™ 2.0?
The SwimSafer 2.0 programme consists of six progressive stages, each comprising approximately 12 hours of lesson time. Survival and activity skills are taught in each stage of the programme, working progressively toward the next stage.
Upon successful completion of each stage, participants are able to obtain their e-certificate either from the SwimSafer instructor or through their ActiveSG account.
The programme aims to teach swimming proficiency and water survival skills in a fun manner. These skills are necessary to help reduce the number of drowning incidents in Singapore.
The SwimSafer programme consists of 6 stages.
This 6 stages program includes skills and knowledge from beginner to advanced levels during their swimming lessons. Crafted specially for children below 16 years old, this program will help evolve your child from a non-swimmer into a good swimmer.
SwimSafer is recognized by all schools, institutions and water-related sports (e.g. Kayaking, scuba diving) in Singapore.
The SwimSafer Stages
The objective is to develop confidence and independence in the water, learn general and deep-end water safety. Techniques taught include the forward and backward movement, safe entry and exit, and personal water safety.
Personal Survival & Stroke Improvement Skills
Development of student’s stroke techniques is a focus here, along with coordinated breathing in deep water. This stage sees the introduction of throw rescues and more personal survival skills. One of the goals is to achieve 100 meters of a variety of strokes.
General skill development including unassisted step entry into the water, sculling, feet first surface dives, personal water safety skills as well as water safety in aquatic environments. One of the goals is to achieve 25 meters of continuous swimming.
Intermediate Personal Survival & Stroke Refinement Skills
Fundamentals of diving will be introduced. Development of personal survival knowledge will continue with a situational context of swimming quickly away from a sinking boat. Students will be required to demonstrate efficient stroke techniques by swimming a variety of strokes over 200 meters within a given time frame.
Personal & Stroke Development Skills
Entry skills such as the stride jump will be taught. Skills include sculling, underwater skills and putting on a personal flotation device (PFD) whilst in water and swimming with it. One of the goals is to achieve 50 meters of continuous swimming.
Advance Personal Survival & Swimming Skill Proficiency
Students will be required to perform a variety of strokes with efficiency over 400 metres within a given time frame for each stroke. Personal survival skills like making use of clothing to make a personal floatation device and swimming with them, putting on a life jacket in water and demonstrating the Heat Escape Lessening Posture technique will be taught.