Month: July 2024

7 Essential Skills to Learn in an Online Water Safety Course

According to the National Drowning Report 2023, around 281 people drowned in the Australian waterways. It calls for individuals who can work or volunteer in a role that involves saving people from such accidents. This also means you must learn some crucial water safety skills to be fit for the role. 

An online water safety course is an excellent option for you to develop such lifesaving knowledge. It enables you to learn more about event water safety & first aid services. In this blog post, we will cover 7 essential skills to learn when you are taking an online water safety course. 

7 Skills to Learn in the Online Water Safety Course

Let us explore more about the world of water safety skills and learn about the seven crucial lessons that you must learn from the online course.

  1. Drowning Awareness

You must be aware of the situations that drowning usually involves to be able to save someone. Usually, these situations involve: 

  • Children between the ages of 1-4.
  • It may occur with no noise at all.
  • It may take just a few seconds.
  • It can occur at any location where there is water.

An online course helps you understand these scenarios that lead to drowning. This, in turn, can help you identify and reduce risk factors.

  1. Factors Increasing Drowning Risk

Water bodies can be of different types, which is why they pose different risks. Water safety training can help you identify numerous factors that make drowning incidents more likely.

For example, natural bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and oceans have waves and currents, with vegetation and rocks underneath. The course will equip you with the skills to evaluate water bodies to identify risks quickly and take measures to reduce them.

  1. Understanding Other Hazards Around Water

Drowning is the greatest risk to all swimmers. However, there are other risks too that may lead to this tragic outcome. The course offered by any aquatic safety training academy will cover the following things:

  • Cold Water Shock: Entering water that is colder than expected can cause a person to start gasping for air and breathing rapidly. 
  • Marine Life Hazards: Aquatic creatures like jellyfish can pose a risk to swimmers and cause them to get into difficulties.
  • Slip-and-fall Hazards: Places near swimming pools, including the pavements, often become slippery, increasing the risk of individuals falling into the water.

You need more than strong swimming skills for a well-equipped aquatic rescue for play leaders. It involves knowing how to get people to safety while also protecting yourself and others. 

  1. Steps to Take When Someone is Drowning

Knowing what actions to take when somebody is drawing is crucial, especially when your work revolves around water bodies. Chances are you will endanger your own life and that of the drowning person if you act on instinct. Hence, an online course will teach you how to help a drowning individual safely without sacrificing your well-being. This includes learning about :

  • Surveillance techniques
  • Rescue techniques
  • Communication strategies
  • Applying local regulations
  1. Using Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

PFDs are vital water safety tools that you should know how to use. These are not just limited to life jackets. An online water safety course will help you learn more about such additional tools and explore buoyancy ratings. This helps you know how to provide the right jacket or safety tool for each individual. It will also explore how to use various throw rings or other flotation devices in emergencies.

  1. Handling Chemical and Biological Hazards

Not all waterways are as clean as anyone would like them to be. You must have the skill to know how to spot a contaminated body of water that may not be safe for swimming. 

An online water safety course will teach you event water safety & first aid services. This involves knowing the signs that there are chemical and biological hazards that must be avoided. You will also learn how to provide first aid to prevent the consequences, if somehow anybody gets inside such water bodies.

  1. Complying with Water Body Regulations

An online water safety course will review various water body regulations in Australia. It can help you understand how these regulations relate to your job role as a lifeguard, pool manager, or environmental officer. This can further give you the confidence to keep yourself and others safe at work. You can recognize areas where your organization needs to make more improvements.

Enroll for Your Water Safety Course

No one can afford to take risks when it comes to ensuring water safety. West Coast Water Safety, an efficient aquatic safety training academy, understands this requirement. That is why it offers courses that enable you to apply to jobs like lifeguards for hire Western Australia. These courses will enable you to learn critical water safety skills, emergency response techniques, and the latest best practices in aquatic risk management. So, why wait? Book your course now and enhance your water safety skills right away!

Top Recommendations for Safer Open Water Swimming

Oceans, beaches, lakes and rivers are popular destinations for vacation and they never go out of trend. Even though open water swimming is fun it is yet a challenging activity. It requires extra precautions to ensure safety. Without proper training a lot of incidents could happen, to avoid such accidents learn this life-saving skill. 

West Coast Water Safety (WCWS) is the best Aquatic safety training academy in Australia. It provides ocean water safety, pool lifeguard services, and beach management. If you are searching to find a professional lifeguard team, WCWS is the right place in the country.

Preparation tips for Safer Open Water Swimming

Pre-Swim Preparation

Get yourself prepared with all the basics to stop yourself from getting drowned in the water. Make sure you follow these tips before you get into the water.

1. Check Weather and Water Conditions:

  • Always check the weather forecast and water conditions before heading out.
  • Avoid swimming during storms, strong winds, or rough seas.

2. Swim with a Buddy:

  • Never swim alone. Having a buddy increases safety and provides help in case of an emergency.
  • Let someone on land know your swimming route and estimated return time.

3. Know Your Route:

  • Familiarize yourself with the swim area. 
  • Identify potential hazards such as strong currents, underwater obstacles, and boat traffic.

4. Use the Right Gear:

  • Wear a brightly coloured swim cap and consider a safety buoy for visibility.
  • Use a wetsuit if the water is cold.

During the Swim

Even though you take enough care before swimming, what is most important is on-site safety. Select the place to swim which provides event water safety & first aid services for additional assistance. Follow these tips while swimming in open waters.

1. Stay Visible:

  • Swim close to the shore or in designated swimming areas.
  • Use a safety buoy to make yourself more visible to boats and rescue personnel.

2. Pace Yourself:

  • Open water swimming can be more physically demanding than pool swimming. Start slow and maintain a steady pace.

3. Stay Calm and Aware:

  • Stay aware of your surroundings and changes in water conditions.
  • If you encounter waves or currents, remain calm and swim perpendicular to the current to reach safety.

4. Be Aware of Marine Life:

  • Respect marine life and avoid areas known for jellyfish or other potentially dangerous creatures.

5. Hydrate and Fuel:

  • Open-water swimming can lead to dehydration. Drink water and consider taking small, energy-boosting snacks.

Post-Swim

Frequent water activities such as swimming can cause health issues. But with proper care taken, you can continue enjoying your fun activity. To continue dipping in the open waters follow these post-swimming tips. 

1. Warm Up:

  • After exiting the water, dry off and change into warm clothing to prevent hypothermia.

2. Check for Injuries:

  • Inspect yourself for any cuts, scrapes, or stings and treat them promptly.

3. Stretch and Rest:

  • Stretch your muscles to prevent cramps and give your body time to recover.

Aquatic training Courses provided by WCWS

WCWS provides various training courses like Aquatic Rescue For Play Leaders, Aquatic School Programs, Aquatic Rescue for Group 3 Pools, Aquatic Rescue for Hydrotherapy, and more. The water safety education provided in these courses covers the basics needed to meet or better the West Australian legal requirements

This qualification is for shallow water and lower-risk environments. The participants who complete the training program can get the certification. From the training provided, the participants can understand how to handle risk with the emergency action plans and forms. 

Swim Safely in Open Waters

Swimming in open waters is thrilling yet risky. But these risks don’t mean you should set back from having fun, with the proper precautions taken you can enjoy the activity in open waters. West Coast Water Safety is the globally recognised accident prevention and rescue response team. For the best professional lifeguards for hire in Western Australia, reach out to WCWS.