SV18 - Supervision of School Students in Unstructured Aquatic Activities

Purpose

To provide guidance in the planning and implementation of unstructured aquatic activity at an aquatic facility.

Definition

Unstructured Aquatic Activity: Unstructured aquatic activity includes a celebration or reward days either for individual classes or the whole school; free swim time as part of an excursion, free swim time incorporated in a school swimming carnival, free swim time or pool play at a school camp or free swimming in a weekly swimming program.

Shallow water: Shallow water is defined as "water depth no higher than a student’s waist”. This ensures no restrictions to arm movements and allows for a distressed student to signal for help.

Wrist bands: A waterproof band placed on a student’s wrist to identify proficiency against the Water Survival Challenge criteria. Blue wrist bands for proficient students and yellow wrist bands for non-proficient students who are able to walk with balance and stability in shallow water.

Scope

These Guidelines only apply to unstructured aquatic activities, such as:

• ‘celebration’ or ‘reward days’ either for individual classes or the whole school
• ‘free’ swimming as part of an excursion
• ‘free’ swimming incorporated in a school swimming carnival
• ‘free’ swimming or pool play at a school camp
• ‘free’ swimming in a weekly school sport program.

Description

To successfully coordinate unstructured aquatic activities the owner or operator of an aquatic facility as well as the principals and aquatic/excursion coordinators need to address the following steps:

• Hiring Agreement
• Parent / Carer Permission
• Risk Management
• Staff Supervision
• Staff induction
• Student Induction
• Testing Proficiency
• Classifying Students

Hiring Agreement

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should supply a copy of the Aquatic Facilities Emergency Plan and operating procedures relevant to the activities to principals and aquatic/excursion coordinators.

The owner or operator of the aquatic facility should establish a letter of agreement or a hiring agreement with the school, which clearly establishes the responsibility of the aquatic facility and the hirer (the school).

These responsibilities will include:

• Supervision within the aquatic facility (in-water and out of water)
• Responsibility in an emergency
• Responsibility for first aid

This agreement should be countersigned by the hirer to indicate that the terms and conditions have been accepted. The letter of agreement should clearly establish:

• Information regarding the likely number of persons using the aquatic facility, and if appropriate their skills
• The name of the hirer’s representative who will be personally present and in charge of the group
• The age of the hiring group
• The number of lifeguards to be present during the session
• Respective responsibilities of the aquatic facility and the hirer in an emergency (including evacuations). A distinction should be drawn between generated emergencies (e.g. injuries) and facility emergencies (e.g. structural problems)
• Any local laws that may be enforced
• Rules of behaviour to be followed
• Any specific advice to be given to users
• Responsibility for the provision of first aid services
• Access to first aid equipment

Risk Management Plan

The degree of planning required is influenced by the nature of the unstructured aquatic activity, the level of risk and the student group. For activities that have previously been planned and conducted, previous risk management plans may be reviewed and reused.

An important component of the risk management process is consultation, which should include staff, external venue providers and parents.

Principals should retain the documented plan as verification of the planning undertaken. The documentation will aid communication of the plan, and can also be used in future planning of unstructured aquatic activities.

All staff participating in the activity should be given a copy of the risk management plan (See Guideline for Aquatic Activity Risk Assessment).

Supervision Requirements

The supervision of school children in unstructured aquatic activity should be provided consistent with the aquatic facilities Supervision Plan

Where the number of bathers exceeds the recommended ratio of lifeguards to bathers in the facilities Supervision Plan additional Lifeguards may be required to actively supervise the area/facility.

Education and Information

Prior to or at the aquatic facility it is important that students are provided with an induction into the aquatic facility and how the student can safely participate in the unstructured aquatic activity.

Testing of Students

Individual aquatic facilities may wish to consider the testing of children’s swimming and water safety ability prior to allowing unstructured aquatic activities taking place. If so this should be done in cooperation with the participating school.

Clothing and Personal Protection Equipment

Personal Protection Equipment

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should take a risk management approach in regards to the wearing and supply of personal protection equipment for non-swimmers and weak swimmers.

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility may consider personal flotation devices such as Life Jackets be worn by children in unstructured aquatic activity however this is not a requirement.

All personal flotation devices should be fit to size of the child and consistent with Australian Standard Personal Flotation Devices AS4758:1

Personal Identification Clothing

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should consider the use of wrist bands, rash vest, caps (or similar) to identify and assist Lifeguards in applying a risk based approach to patrons.

References

• Water Safety Guidelines for Unstructured Aquatic Activity – NSW Department of Education and Training and Royal Life Saving NSW
• Guidelines for Supervision of Children
• Guidelines for Supervision of Non-Swimmers and Weak Swimmers
• AS/NZS 4360 Risk management 2004