Survival Sequence
A calm self-rescue sequence: enter, float to recover, tread and signal, then swim to safety and exit.
- Stages
- Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Back Float, Water Safety, Treading Water
- Equipment
- None, Noodle, Clothing
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2, Recap / Safe Exit
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Deep water: swimmers stay within reach of the wall or a helper, with a noodle or float ready.
- Keep the sequence calm; stop if a swimmer becomes distressed.
What it develops
- Float and rest to save energy
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Apply self-rescue and water safety knowledge
- Survival floating and energy saving
- Combine aquatic skills in a sequence
- Water safety and rescue awareness
How to run it
- Enter safely (slide or step) into deep water.
- Float on the back for a count of 20 – 'float first'.
- Tread water and signal for help.
- Swim slowly to the side and exit.
Teaching cues
- Float first.
- Calm breathing.
- Signal, then swim.
Make it easier
- Shorter float; noodle nearby.
- Skip the entry.
Make it harder
- In a T-shirt.
- Longer swim to safety.
Common faults
- Rushing to swim straight away.
- Panicky treading.
Corrections
- Explain why floating first saves energy.
- Practise each part on its own first.
Assistant / L1 role
- Follow one swimmer through the sequence from poolside and prompt the next step if needed.