Lesson 3 – 30 minutes
Learning outcomes
- Identify dangers at the beach.
- Recognise the signs that they are in trouble in the water. Demonstrate the signal for ‘assistance required’
Preparation
WORKSHEET: RIPS
- Whiteboard and markers (optional).
- Butcher paper and markers (optional).
- Find two lifesavers/water safety personnel to perform a water demonstration.
Discuss
- Generate a discussion around what are dangers?
- Direct the discussion specifically to what dangers are at the beach.
- Discuss some of the specific dangers on and around your beach and why they are dangerous, include things such as:
- Driveways/roads nearby with cars.
- Exposed rocky areas.
- What dangerous things can be hiding under the sand Areas that have been prone to accidents.
- Rips.
- Large wave.
Activity 1
- Take the participants on a beach walk and ask them to point out any dangers they can see around
the beach
Discuss
- Discuss the following questions:
- What types of trouble can you get into while swimming at the beach?
- What should you do if you get into trouble in the water?
- Stay calm.
- Raise your arm above your head and move from side to side to signal for help.
- If in a rip/current: float with it – don’t try to swim against it.
- Wait for assistance.
Activity 2
- Pair up the participants and have them practice their ‘assistance required’ signal on the beach, one
person signalling and the other person ‘pretending’ to swim to them and tell them they are safe now.
Demonstrate
- Instruct the lifesaver or water safety personnel to swim out in the water and demonstrate the difference between signalling for help and not signalling for help when in trouble.
- Demo 1: Swimmer pretends to be in trouble without signalling. Discuss with the participants that it is harder to know the person needs help.
- Demo 2: Swimmer pretends to be in trouble and signals for help. Discuss with the participants that it was easier to know that the person needed help
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