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Requirement August 1982 until September 1993

1. Before doing the following requirements:

(a) Earn Swimming merit badge.
(b) Swim 400 meters (440 yards).

2. Explain:

(a) The Safe Swim Defence.
(b) The order of methods in water rescue.

3. Show reaching rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.

4. Show rescues using items that cam be thrown, such as lines, ring buoys, and free-floating supports.

5. Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.

6. With a helper and a subject, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. Use a 15-meter (50-foot) length of line. If available, demonstrate the use of a torpedo buoy and rescue tube.

7. Show twice that you can remove street clothes* on shore (except underwear or swim trunks) in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before a swimming rescue.

8. Explain the importance of avoiding contact with a subject explain "lead" and "wait" tactics and explain why equipment should be used in a swimming rescue.

9. Swim 9 meters (30 feet) and make the correct approach to a tired swimmer. Move him 9 meters (30 feet) to safety using: (a) under-arm swim-along, (b) two-man assist, (c) tired swimmer carry.

10. Keeping the practice victim in sight at all times, make a leaping entry, swim 9 meters (30 feet) with a strong approach stroke, and tow the subject back to pier or pool-side using:

(a) a shirt or other equipment
(b) the rear approach and cross-chest tow
(c) the front approach and wrist tow.

Remove the practice victim from the water and place in position for resuscitation.

11. Show in deep water your defence against grasps by blocking, and escaping. Free yourself from both front and rear holds.

12. Make four surface dives in 2.4 meters (8 feet) of water. Retrieve an object three times. Bring up a 10-pound weight once.

13. Show search techniques:

(a) As a part of a lost swimmer drill.
(b) As a diver using mask, fins, and a snorkel (not scuba).

14. Explain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and show evidence of having completed a minimum of 3 hours instruction (not certification) in CPR skills.

*"Street clothes" means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), pants, belt, and long-sleeve shirt. A jacket or sweater or sweat shirt also may be worn.

** Resources for CPR instruction include local chapters of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, rescue squads, fire departments, hospitals, medical societies, BPA Aquatic instructors, YMCA Aquatic instructors, or any person having completed the CPR basic life support course.

Requirements September 1993 until September 1995

1. Before doing requirements 2-15

(a) Earn Swimming merit badge.
(b) Swim 400 meters.

2. Explain:

(a) The Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.
(b) The order of methods in water rescue.

3. Show reaching rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.

4. Show rescues using items that can be thrown, such as lines, ring buoys, rescue bags, and free-floating supports.

5. Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.

6. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. Perform the rescue with the practice victim approximately 30 feet from the tender. Use a 100 foot length of 3/16-inch line.

7. Show that you can remove street clothes* on shore (except underwear or swim trunks) in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before a swimming rescue.

8. Explain the importance of avoiding contact with a victim; explain "lead" and "wait" tactics; and explain why equipment should be used in a swimming rescue.

9. Swim 30 feet and make the correct approach to a tired swimmer. Move him 30 feet to safety using the following:

(a) Under-arm swim-along
(b) Two-person assist

10. Make rescues on a practice victim 30 feet from shore, using the correct entry and a strong approach stroke, and bringing the victim to pier or pool-side, using

(a) A rescue tube or torpedo buoy
(b) A shirt, towel, or other equipment
(c) A front approach and wrist tow
(d) A rear approach and single armpit tow
(e) A rear approach and single armpit tow, changing to the cross-chest carry

Discuss the different methods for removing a victim from the water. Choose the appropriate method for your situation. Remove the practice victim from the water and place in position for resuscitation.

11. Show in deep water your defense against grasps by blocking, and escaping. Free yourself from a wrist hold, rear head-hold, and a front head-hold.

12. Make four surface dives in 8 to 10 feet of water. Retrieve an object on each of the first three dives. Bring up a 10-pound weight on the fourth dive.

13. Show search techniques as part of a lost-swimmer drill. Discuss search techniques using mask, fins, and snorkel (not scuba).

14. Do the following:

(a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how such conditions are recognized.
(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least 3 minutes.

15. Demonstrate proper management of a spinal injury by

(a) Explaining the signs and symptoms of a spinal injury
(b) Supporting a faceup victim in calm, shallow water
(c) Turning a person from a facedown to a faceup position while maintaining support.

*"Street Clothes" means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), pants, belt, and long-sleeve shirt.  A jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt also may be worn.

Requirements September 1995 until January 1998

1. Before doing requirements 2-15

(a) Earn Swimming merit badge.
(b) Swim 400 meters.

2. Explain:

(a) The Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.
(b) The order of methods in water rescue.

3. Show reaching rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.

4. Show rescues using items that can be thrown, such as lines, ring buoys, rescue bags, and free-floating supports.

5. Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.

6. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. Perform the rescue with the practice victim approximately 30 feet from the tender. Use a 100 foot length of 3/16-inch line.

7. Show that you can remove street clothes* on shore (except underwear or swim trunks) in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before a swimming rescue.

8. Explain the importance of avoiding contact with a victim; explain "lead" and "wait" tactics; and explain why equipment should be used in a swimming rescue.

9. Swim 30 feet and make the correct approach to a tired swimmer. Move the tired swimmer 30 feet to safety using the following:

(a) Under-arm swim-along
(b) Two-person assist

10. Make rescues on a practice victim 30 feet from shore, using the correct entry and a strong approach stroke, and bringing the victim to pier or pool-side, using

(a) A rescue tube or torpedo buoy
(b) A shirt, towel, or other equipment
(c) A front approach and wrist tow
(d) A rear approach and single armpit tow
(e) A rear approach and single armpit tow, changing to the cross-chest carry

Discuss the different methods for removing a victim from the water. Choose the appropriate method for your situation. Remove the practice victim from the water and place in position for resuscitation.

11. Show in deep water your defense against grasps by blocking, and escaping. Free yourself from a wrist hold, rear head-hold, and a front head-hold.

12. Make four surface dives in 8 to 10 feet of water. Retrieve an object on each of the first three dives. Bring up a 10-pound weight on the fourth dive.

13. Show search techniques as part of a lost-swimmer drill. Discuss search techniques using mask, fins, and snorkel (not scuba).

14. Demonstrate proper management of a spinal injury by

(a) Explaining the signs and symptoms of a spinal injury
(b) Supporting a faceup victim in calm, shallow water
(c) Turning a person from a facedown to a faceup position while maintaining support.

*"Street Clothes" means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), pants, belt, and long-sleeve shirt.  A jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt also may be worn.

Requirements January 1998 until January 2001

1. Before doing requirements 2-15

(a) Earn Swimming merit badge.
(b) Swim 400 meters.

2. Explain:

(a) The Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.
(b) The order of methods in water rescue.

3. Show reaching rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.

4. Show rescues using items that can be thrown, such as lines, ring buoys, rescue bags, and free-floating supports.

5. Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.

6. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. Perform the rescue with the practice victim approximately 30 feet from the tender. Use a 100 foot length of 3/16-inch line.

7. Show that you can remove street clothes* on shore (except underwear or swim trunks) in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before a swimming rescue.

8. Explain the importance of avoiding contact with a victim; explain "lead" and "wait" tactics; and explain why equipment should be used in a swimming rescue.

9. Swim 30 feet and make the correct approach to a tired swimmer. Move the tired swimmer 30 feet to safety using the following:

(a) Under-arm swim-along
(b) Two-person assist

10. Make rescues on a practice victim 30 feet from shore, using the correct entry and a strong approach stroke, and bringing the victim to pier or pool-side, using

(a) A rescue tube or torpedo buoy
(b) A shirt, towel, or other equipment
(c) A front approach and wrist tow
(d) A rear approach and single armpit tow
(e) A rear approach and single armpit tow, changing to the cross-chest carry

Discuss the different methods for removing a victim from the water. Choose the appropriate method for your situation. Remove the practice victim from the water and place in position for resuscitation.

11. Show in deep water your defense against grasps by blocking, and escaping. Free yourself from a wrist hold, rear head-hold, and a front head-hold.

12. Make four surface dives in 8 to 10 feet of water. Retrieve an object on each of the first three dives. Bring up a 10-pound weight on the fourth dive.

13. Show search techniques as part of a lost-swimmer drill. Discuss search techniques using mask, fins, and snorkel (not scuba).

14. Do the following:

(a) Explain how to recognize and confirm cardiac arrest.
(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor..

15. Demonstrate proper management of a spinal injury by

(a) Explaining the signs and symptoms of a spinal injury
(b) Supporting a faceup victim in calm, shallow water
(c) Turning a person from a facedown to a faceup position while maintaining support.

*"Street Clothes" means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), pants, belt, and long-sleeve shirt.  A jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt also may be worn.

Requirements January 2001 until January 2016

1. Before doing requirements 2 through 15

(a) Complete Second Class rank requirements 7a through 7c and First Class rank requirements 9a through 9d.

Second Class rnak requirements 7a through 7c:

(7a) Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.

(7b) Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.

(7c) Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with a victim.

First Class rank requirements 9a through 9d:

(9a) Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.

(9b) Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.

(9c) Demonstrate survival skills by leaping into deep water wearing clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt). Remove shoes and scoks, inflate the shirt, and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50 feet using the inflated pants for support, then show how to reinflate the pants while using them for support.

(9c) With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. ( The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water)

(b) Swim continuously for 400 yards using each of the following strokes in a strong manner for at least 50 continuous yards: front crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke.

2. Explain the following:

(a) Common drowning situations and how to prevent them.
(b) How to identify persons in the water who need assistance.
(c) The order of methods in water rescue.
(d) How rescue techniques very dedending on the setting and the condition of the person needing assistance
(e) Situations for which in-water rescues should not be undertaken.

3. Demonstrate “reaching” rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.

4. Demonstrate “throwing” rescues using various items such as lines, ring buoys, rescue bags, and free-floating supports. Successfully place at least one such aid within reach of a practice victim 25 feet from shore.

5. Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.

6. List various items that can be used as rescue aids in a noncontact swimming rescue. Explain why buoyant aids are preferred.

7. Perform the following equipment-based rescues for a conscious practice subject 30 feet from shore. Use proper entry and a strong approach stroke. Speak to the subject to determine his condition and to provide instructions and encouragement.

(a) Present a rescue tube to the subject, release it, and escort the victim to safety.
(b) Present a rescue tube the subject and use it to tow the victim to safety.
(c) Present a buoyant aid other than a rescue tube to the subject, release it, and escort the victim to safety.
(d) Present a buoyant aid other than a rescue tube to the subject and use it to tow the victim to safety.
(e) Remove street cloths in 20 seconds or less and use a nonbuoyant aid, such as a shirt ot towel, to tow the subject to safety. Explain why it appropriate to remove heavy clothing before attempting a swimming rescue.

8. Explain the importance of avoiding contact with an active victim and describe lead-and-wait tactics.

9. Perform the following nonequipment rescues for a conscious practice subject 30 feet from shore. Begin in the water from a position near the subject. Speak to the subject to determine his condition and to provide instructions and encouragement.

(a) Provide a swim-along assist for a calm, responsive, tired swimmer moving with a weak forward stroke.
(b) Perform an armpit tow for a calm, responsive, tired swimmer resting with a back float.
(c) Perform a cross-chest carry for an exhausted, passive victim who does not respond to instructions to aid himself.

10. In deep water, show how to escape from a victim’s grasp on your wrist. Repeat for front and rear holds about the head and shoulders.

11. Perform the following rescues for an unconscious practice subject at or near the surface 30 feet from shore. Use a proper entry and strong approach stroke. Speak to the subject and splash water on him to determine his condition before making contact. Remove the victim from the water, with assistance if needed, and perform CPR.

(a) Perform an equipment assist using a buoyant aid.
(b) Perform a front approach and wrist tow.
(c) Perform a rear approach and armpit tow.

12. Describe how to respond if a victim submerges before being reached by a rescuer, and do the following.:

(a) Recover a 10 pound weight in 8 to 10 feet of water using a feetfirst surface dive.
(b) Repeat using a headfirst surface dive.

13. Demonstrate knowledge of resuscitation procedure:

(a) Describe how to recognize the need for rescue breathing and CPR.
(b) Demonstrate proper CPR technique for at least 3 minutes using a mannequin designed to simulate ventilations and compressions.

14. Demonstrate management of a spinal injury:

(a) Explaining the signs and symptoms of a spinal injury.
(b) Suppor a faceup victim in calm, shallow water.
(c) Turn a subject from a facedown to a faceup position while maintaining support.

15. Show that you know first aid for other injuries or illnesses that could occur while swimming or boating, including hypothermia, heat reactions, muscle cramps, sunburn, stings, and hyperventilation.

Note: Alternative requirements for the Second Class and First Class ranks are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities if they meet the criteria listed on page 13 in the Boy Scout Requirements book, No 33215C.