Water Safety Workshop for Faith Communities

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, participants will be able to:

• Name the times your congregation is near water (picnics, retreats, youth trips, family travel) and plan each one with layers of protection.
• Set up Water Watchers, buddy checks and an emergency plan for group outings.
• Recognize the quiet signs of drowning and help from land: shout, call 911, reach or throw.
• Identify ways to make swim lessons welcoming, including modest swimwear and women-only sessions.
• Know where to point families for grief support, including faith-based and culturally matched options.

Materials

• Chart paper and markers
• Copies of the Pool Party Checklist (it works for any group outing), Water Watcher cards and the Emergency Action Plan
• A rope or tape line on the floor, a pole and something that floats, for the reach-or-throw demonstration
• Copies of the Adult Swim Lesson Guide and the Grief Support Contacts sheet
• A list of nearby pools, with their lesson programs and any women-only or family sessions, that you looked up in advance

Lesson steps

1. Welcome 5 minutes

   A leader of the congregation opens, in the words of your own tradition, with the idea of caring for one another's children and families. Then state the goal: Every outing this year has a water plan.

2. Activity 1: Where are we near water? 10 minutes

   As a group, list every time the community is near water in a year: the annual picnic at a park lake, a youth retreat, a beach trip, a summer camp, a member's pool, family trips abroad. Circle the ones with no lifeguard.

3. Activity 2: Plan one outing together 20 minutes

   Small groups take one outing from the list and plan it with the Pool Party Checklist. Each group reports its plan in 2 minutes.

   • Place: choose a lifeguarded beach or pool and swim only in the designated area. Check the weather, water conditions and any posted flags first.

   • People: name Water Watchers for every swim time and a schedule to pass the card every 15 to 20 minutes. Watchers don't use phones and don't do other jobs.

   • Buddies: pair children and new swimmers so that no one swims alone.

   • Gear: U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for young children, weak swimmers and everyone on a boat. Not water wings or floats.

   • Plan: the exact address for 911, who calls, where the reaching pole or ring is, and who knows CPR.

4. Activity 3: Recognize and respond 10 minutes

   Describe a swimmer who is upright, mouth at the water's surface, not moving forward and not calling out: that person needs help now. Then two volunteers demonstrate reach or throw at the line on the floor. Nobody crosses the line.

5. Activity 4: Making swimming welcoming 10 minutes

   Discuss what keeps members out of the water and what would help. Write ideas on chart paper.

   • Modest swimwear: long-sleeved swim tops and leggings. Ask local pools about their swimwear rules before a group lesson day.

   • Women-only or family sessions: ask nearby pools whether they offer or would host them.

   • Adult lessons: many adults never learned. Plan a group sign-up so nobody goes alone.

   • Children: lessons can start for many children at age 1, and they still need a watching adult.

6. Assessment and commitments 5 minutes

   Each group names one commitment for the congregation, such as a water safety lead for every event, a swim lesson sign-up day, or posters by the door. Ask the quick check questions below.

7. Take-home

   Water Watcher cards for event leaders, the Emergency Action Plan, the Adult Swim Lesson Guide, and the Grief Support Contacts sheet for clergy and care teams.