Tag: red cross

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November 8, 2022

At Canucks Autism Network (CAN), we believe that every child, youth and adult on the autism spectrum has the right to play sports. And that includes the joy of being in the pool!

Being confident in the water can open up a wide range of recreational opportunities for our participants – from family vacations at the lake to competitive swimming. And in beautiful BC, where we’re surrounded by lakes and oceanfronts, swimming skills can be lifesaving.

As we prepare for our upcoming winter season next year, we have an important announcement.

Beginning January 2023, CAN swim will transition from its alignment with the Canadian Red Cross to the new Lifesaving Society format.

This is a move endorsed by the Canadian Red Cross, as they phase out of their delivery of swim programs nation-wide. So what does this mean for CAN programs?

You can still expect the same high-ratio of participant support. And, of course, the same level of enthusiasm that our staff and volunteers bring to the program each session!

Much like the previous Canadian Red Cross format, the Lifesaving Society focuses on water safety in addition to swimming skills. In particular, their curriculum emphasizes Water Smart® Education and Swim to Survive® skills.

Not sure which CAN swim program to register for? Refer to our transition table below!

Previous CAN Swim
Canadian Red Cross		 New CAN Swim
(Starting Jan 2023)
Lifesaving Society		 Skills Required & Taught
Swim (3-6yrs) Preschool Swim
(3-5yrs)		 Skills Required: For kids just starting out

Skills Taught: Safe entries, surface support, underwater skills & movement/swimming skills
Swim 1 (7-12yrs) Swimmer 1
(6-12yrs)		 Skills Required: For kids just starting out

Skills Taught: Safe entries, surface support, underwater skills & movement/swimming skills
Swim 2 (7-12yrs) Swimmer 2
(6-12yrs)		 Skills Required: For kids who can jump into chest-deep water by themselves or deep-water wearing a lifejacket

Skills Taught: Focus on opening eyes & holding breath underwater, floating, kicking & front/back gliding
Swim 3 (7-12yrs) Swimmer 3
(6-12yrs)		 Skills Required: For kids who can jump into deep water and do a sideways entry wearing a lifejacket

Skills Taught: Focus on supporting self at surface for 15s, whip kicks in vertical position, swimming 10m on front and back
Swim 1 (13+yrs) Youth & Adult Swim
(13+yrs)		 Skills Required: For youth & adults who are just starting out

Skills Taught: Safe entries, surface support, underwater skills & movement/swimming skills (equivalent to LSS Swimmer 1)

Key transition takeaways:

  • The previous 3-6yrs age group is now offered only to 3-5yrs.
  • The previous 7-12yrs age group has been expanded to 6-12yrs.

Please refer to the skills column above to determine which level to register for.*

*It is the parent/guardian/participant’s responsibility to sign up for the correct level. If a participant has not been placed correctly, our ability to transfer them into the appropriate level once the season has begun will be subject to program availability. If space is not available in the appropriate level, the participant will have to removed from the program.

Previously completed Canadian Red Cross levels can be carried over to the new Lifesaving Society format.**

**If a participant had previously completed CAN Swim Level 1, they can register for the new CAN Swimmer 2 program.

After benefiting from adapted instruction at CAN, Linden took her skills & confidence to City of Surrey swim lessons to obtain her Canadian Red Cross Level 3 badge! Read Linden’s story >

Beyond CAN swim:

Like the previous Canadian Red Cross model, the Lifesaving Society delivers instruction beyond the Swimmer 3 level.

We will continue to provide standardized report cards that allow CAN participants who are ready to transition out of our programs.

With your Lifesaving Society Swimmer 1, 2 or 3 report card from CAN, you’ll be able to transition to typical swimming lessons at your local community centre.

This past year alone, our certified CAN swim instructors taught over 650 participants across BC.

We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!

Ready to dive in? See which CAN swim programs are being offered in your community in the Program Guide!

Further reading

https://www.canucksautismnetwork2024-070224.local/can-removes-diagnosis-barrier-to-program-access-for-youth-and-adults/

 

BLOG HOME

Dec 10, 2018

Beautiful successes. When they happen, they’re like watching fireworks – especially when it comes to watching my own daughter succeed.

When Linden was about three years old, she was introduced to swimming lessons through a local community program.

Like a lot of kids who start swimming lessons, Linden was terrified of the pool. At her first lesson, she kept exclusively to the pool deck. But unlike most kids, Linden refused to step into the pool for the entire multi-week set of lessons.

At that point, I put swimming lessons on hold for Linden.

Children with autism are more than 160 times more likely to drown.

In 2014, Linden received her autism diagnosis. At the time, she was five years old. While exploring the different services available in our community, I saw that Canucks Autism Network (CAN) offered swim lessons. Immediately, I regained hope.

This is when CAN jumped in with us.

I enrolled Linden in their swim program later that year. She was still terrified of the water. But CAN met her at her level.

The swim instructor didn’t rush her. She hung out with her in the little pool, where the water wouldn’t go above her waist, since that is where Linden felt most in control. And they just played.

Left photo: A young girl and swim coach playing in the shallow end of the pool. Right photo: A young girl floats in the water while supported by her coach.

Seeing that was magical. Beyond making Linden comfortable in the water, she helped her enjoy the pool. It was a dream come true to see that someone understood Linden when she was most vulnerable.

Since then, we have not looked back. After about a year, Linden was able to successfully put her entire face in the water!

I will never forget that day. Given where she started, it felt like something completely out of this world. Linden was so proud of herself. We all were. The staff and volunteers all stopped to cheer and celebrate her.

Linden was beaming – I will never forget her smile.

No matter how big or small the accomplishment, CAN has always been incredible at making sure Linden knew just how proud they were of her.

Over the next few years, CAN’s staff and volunteers continued to work with Linden – always at her pace. Following her lead, they pushed her just enough. They built this amazing circle of trust that eased her fears with each new skill. One week at a time.

This Fall season alone, 252 children with autism were waitlisted for CAN Swim.

Linden flourished. And with time, patience and lots of love, she was able to swim independently with CAN right by her side. Amazing.

This summer, I decided that Linden was ready to move forward from the CAN swim program. After completing CAN’s Level 2 Red Cross program, I enrolled her into a regular swim class.

With years of experience in CAN programs at her back, Linden successfully transitioned to a community rec program and earned her very first swim badge at Level 3.

Because of CAN, Linden is thriving. She is resilient. She CAN!

They have provided her with this incredible stepping stone. From being terrified of the water at age 3, she is now mastering typical swim lessons.

To all the staff and volunteers that have worked with Linden for years – you have given my girl confidence and determination.

To all the donors, who make these programs possible — thank you.

What an incredible, lifelong gift.

-Jessica Norman

Your contribution of $39.16 would provide a child with autism with one swim lesson within our 8-week program.

Will you consider making a gift that will last far beyond the holiday season? Make your contribution before January 1st, 2020 and it will be doubled by a generous donor!

Make a contribution today.