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Requirements July 1976 until September 1981

1. Review swimming safety precautions in the Swimming skill award. Explain how swimming should be run safely for a group.

2. Swim 150 meters (164 yards). Use the following strokes in good form: Sidestroke for 50 meters (55 yards). Elementary backstroke for 50 meters. Any of the following strokes for the last 50 meters: overarm side, trudgen, trudgen crawl, American crawl, back crawl, or breast.

3. Surface dive headfirst into water over your head and bring up an object from the bottom. Repeat using feetfirst method.

4. Show a plain front dive from a low board. Show a headfirst dive from a dock. Show a racing start.

5. In water over your head, while dressed in cotton shirt and pants:

(a) Inflate shirt. Show you can float using it.
(b) Remove pants. Use them to float motionless for 1 minute.

6. Show the following elementary rescue methods:

(a) Rescue a person needing help within reach. Use either an arm or leg "reach" or a nearby object.

(b) Take off clothes on shore. Enter water feetfirst. Carry shirt in teeth or hand. Swim 10 meters (about 33 feet). Swing one end of shirt to the hands off presumably drowning person. Tow him to shore.

7. Show swimming ability by doing the following:

(a) Float faceup in a resting position, as nearly motionless as possible, for 1 minute.

(b) Float facedown in a relaxed position ("drown-proofing" or "bobbing jellyfish" float), using minimum movement of arms and legs to raise head for breathing in and to keep body afloat for 10 minutes or longer.

Requirements September 1981 until August 1982

1. Fulfill all requirements of the Swimming skill award. Explain how swimming should be run safely for a group.

2. Swim continuously for 150 meters (164 yards) using the following strokes in good form: Sidestroke for 50 meters (55 yards), elementary backstroke for 50 meters, and any of the following strokes for the last 50 meters: trudgen, crawl, back crawl, or breast.

3. Surface dive headfirst into water over your head but not to exceed 2 1/2 meters and bring up an object from the bottom. Repeat using the feetfirst method of water entry.

4. Show a plain front dive from a low board, if available. Show a headfirst dive from a dock. Show a racing start.

5. Enter water over your head wearing clothes. (Clothes means shoes, socks, underwear or trunks, long pants, belt and long-sleeve shirt.) Remove shoes and socks. Inflate shirt and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove the pants and use them for support while floating. Swim 50 meters using inflated clothing for support.

6. Do the following:

(a) Float faceup in a resting position, as nearly motionless as possible, for 1 minute.
(b) Float facedown in a related position using minimum movement of arms and legs to raise head for breathing and keep body afloat for 10 minutes or longer.

7. Do the following:

(a) Demonstrate rescuing a person from water by reaching with arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and floating objects.
(b) Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing assist or boat rescue can be done. Explain why and how a person making a swimming rescue should avoid contact with the victim.

Requirements August 1982 until September 1989

1. Fulfill all requirements of the Swimming skill award. Explain how swimming should be run safely for a group.

2. Swim continuously for 150 meters (150 yards) using the following strokes in good form: Sidestroke for 50 meters (50 yards), elementary backstroke for 50 meters (50 yards), and any of the following strokes for the last 50 meters (50 yards): trudgen, crawl, back crawl, or breast.

3. Surface dive headfirst into water over your head but not to exceed 2 1/2 meters and bring up an object from the bottom. Repeat using the feetfirst method of water entry.

4. Show a plain front dive from a low board, if available. Show a headfirst dive from a dock. Show a racing start.

5. Enter water over your head wearing clothes. (Clothes means shoes, socks, underwear or trunks, long pants, belt and long-sleeve shirt.) Remove shoes and socks. Inflate shirt and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove the pants and use them for support while floating. Swim 50 meters using inflated clothing for support.

6. Do the following:

(a) Float faceup in a resting position, as nearly motionless as possible, for 1 minute.
(b) Float facedown in a related position using minimum movement of arms and legs to raise head for breathing and keep body afloat for 10 minutes or longer.

7. Do the following:

(a) Demonstrate rescuing a person from water by reaching with arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and floating objects.
(b) Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing assist or boat rescue can be done. Explain why and how a person making a swimming rescue should avoid contact with the victim.

Requirements September 1989 until September 1993

1. Explain how swimming should be conducted safely for a group (Safe Swim Defense plan).

2. Swim continuously for 150 meters or yards using the following strokes in good form: Sidestroke for 50 meters or yards, elementary backstroke for 50 meters or yards, and any of the following strokes for the last 50 meters or yards: trudgen, crawl, back crawl, or breast.

3. Surface dive headfirst into water over your head but not to exceed 8 feet and bring up an object from the bottom. Repeat using the feetfirst method of water entry.

4. Show a plain front dive from a low board, if available. Show a headfirst dive from a dock. Show a racing start.

5. Enter water over your head wearing clothes. (Clothes means shoes, socks, underwear or trunks, long pants, belt and long-sleeve shirt.) Remove shoes and socks. Inflate shirt and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove the pants and use them for support while floating. Swim 50 meters using inflated clothing for support.

6. Do the following:

(a) Float faceup in a resting position, as nearly motionless as possible, for 1 minute.
(b) Float facedown in a related position using minimum movement of arms and legs to raise head for breathing and keep body afloat for 10 minutes or longer.

7. Do the following:

(a) Demonstrate rescuing a person from water by reaching with arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and floating objects.
(b) Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing assist or boat rescue can be done. Explain why and how a person making a swimming rescue should avoid contact with the victim.