Goals:

The students will learn about water rescue, CPR, and water safety through several different activities.

Resources:

American Red Cross reference books on lifesaving, CPR, first aid, and water safety

access to pool or waterfront

several certified lifeguards or water rescue team

life vests

Time:

The first day of this lesson should take one hour while the second day should take five hours.

Procedures:

Day One
 
1.  Begin the class by talking about the Titanic in regards to the lifeboats, life vests, etc. Ask the students if they know how to swim? Do they think many of the people on the Titanic knew how to swim? If the people on the Titanic did how much would this have benefited them?

2.  Discuss the temperature of the water and its effect on the body, Hypothermia. Ask the students how cold they think the water was? What temperature does water freeze at? What clues tell us how cold the water was?

3.  Divide the students into groups of 3-4 people.

4.  Discuss water safety and lifesaving techniques with the class. The American Red Cross has many great books and manuals pertaining to these subjects. They may also be willing to send a trained professional to speak with the students.

Day Two
 
5.  Bring students to the pool or waterfront of some type. If possible have a lifeguard for each group to aid them in learning about water rescue techniques.

6.  Have a lifeguard talk to the students about his/her job and lifesaving in general.

7.  The students will then be taught how to perform several different lifesaving techniques within their groups.

8.  They will also be instructed by a certified CPR instructor on rescue breathing.

9.  The students will reconvene and write a journal entry about their day's experiences.

Assessment:

The students will be assessed on their participation and their ability to work with their group. Criteria for success: The students will be evaluated with the participation rubric and peer evaluation rubric.

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

Science - discussing water temperature and its effect on the human body

Physical Education - swimming and performing lifesaving techniques

Possible Extensions:

Have the students become certified in CPR and/or First Aid training.

The Titanic - developed by Kelly Coleman, Nikki Cosgrove, Megan Mills, & Dorothy Weber

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This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyagers Program.