Program Questions - Swimming & Water Safety

Q: Is it safe to hold your breath for long periods of time underwater?

A: The Canadian Red Cross strongly discourages people from trying to hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time. How long you can safely hold your breath depends on a number of factors including age, body mass, and overall health. Most people can hold their breath comfortably for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Trying to hold your breath for much longer than this, especially underwater, may be dangerous.

Q: Is drown-proofing toddlers a safe practice or false security?

A: Although many of us begin teaching our children at a young age how to be safe in or near water, as responsible adults we should not rely solely on these lessons as our only strategy for keeping children safe. One recent video circulating on the Internet shows young children floating on their back and suggests that this skill will protect children from drowning. The Canadian Red Cross completely disagrees with this idea and emphasizes that the only way to keep children safe in and around water is through constant adult supervision.

Q: What is the age requirement for Water Safety Instructors?

A: The pre-requisite age for the Water Safety Instructor course is now 15 years of age. Water Safety Instructor candidates can complete certification prerequisites for employment at an earlier age. Please consult your provincial legislation for more detailed information on hiring Water Safety Instructors as the age requirements vary.

Q: Is there an option for Red Cross Water Safety Instructors to earn NCCP Swimming Teacher Certification?

A: The Canadian Red Cross, Swimming Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada have completed an agreement to offer an accelerated training track to become a swimming coach. If you are a current Red Cross WSI, you can follow the steps outlined in the process to earn your National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Swimming Teacher certification.

The NCCP Swimming Teacher certification is the minimum certification standard for coaches working for community swim clubs. The Red Cross is proud to be the first training organization to earn recognition for this program and to offer our instructors enhanced employment opportunities within the aquatics community.

For additional information, current Red Cross WSIs should refer to the following website: www.nccpswimming.ca/swimming-teacher-red-cross-wsi/.