Back(stroke) to the survival

Survival strokes - now part of the Swimsafer program, are reintroduced to our national swim program in order to increase the survival rates of children that are playing in rivers and open waters and swimming pools, and be able to react and self-help in case of an emergency.

The survival backstroke, which is a modified version of the breaststroke while lying on the back, is the most "relaxing" and easiest stroke to default to for floatation and being able to breathe.

Students commonly are nervous to lie on their back, especially the younger ones, as they are unable to see what is incoming behind them. However, with a little bit to practice, they should be able to turn their head or body halfway to "check back" and hopefully that would help to relieve the innate anxiety, and be able to properly lie on their back.

Once on their back, the moments of the leg kick mimics the frog kick, where students can draw from their breaststroke practices, and begin to move immediately.