January 8th, 2010 

     Teaching the Skills That         Could Save a Life   

 

Grade 3 students from the London District Catholic School Board are being trained in the skills necessary to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. In partnership with the Lifesaving Society, City of London, the YMCAs of London, Woodstock and St. Thomas, the Towns of Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and St. Mary's and the Municipalities of Southwest Middlesex and West Elgin, more than 1600 students will be receiving three hours of survival training beginning this month.

The Lifesaving Society's "Swim to Survive©" Program sets the minimum swimming standard for all children in Canada. The program's three one-hour sessions focus on being able to roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and swim for 50 metres. The sessions are not meant to replace standard swimming lessons, but they do provide the minimum standard for surviving a fall into deep water.

"Participation in the Swim to Survive Program is a first step to becoming safe around water," said Lisa Brandie, Aquatics Supervisor with the City of London. "It gives the students the knowledge to help prevent drowning and water-related injuries."

The Lifesaving Society, Canada's lifeguarding experts, is a charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart ® public education and safety management services. The Society has received over $1 million in Swim to Survive funding.

Above, teacher  Eric Ursic from St. Joseph's High School was one of the lucky Canadians who carried the Olympic torch through Southwestern Ontario. Eric carried the torch through Tillsonburg.

Our Mission

To serve the Catholic student in a community that nurtures a living faith and provides a quality Catholic education that enables the 
individual to become a contributing member of the Church and Society.

 

For feedback, submissions, suggestions and input, please contact:

j.boles@ldcsb.on.ca

or contact: John Boles, 
Manager of Communications,
519-663-2088, ext 40015

Spotlight is produced weekly by the 
Communications Department of the LDCSB.

    Spotlight is a BRAVO Award winner for demonstrated excellence, recognized by the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education and a winner of the Glorya Nanne Award from the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education for making a substantial contribution to fostering better understanding of Catholic Education.