Canadian Swim Patrol – Star

Overview

The Canadian Swim Patrol program offers advanced training through its three levels: Rookie, Ranger, and Star, aiming to develop participants’ swim strokes and prepare them for the Society’s Bronze medal awards.

Star Patrol, in particular, focuses on physical conditioning and lifesaving judgment. Participants refine their front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke over 700 meters each, complete 600-meter workouts, and perform 300-meter timed swims. Proficiency includes demonstrating at least two different entries with various aids, swimming 25 meters with head-up front crawl or breaststroke, and showing sculling abilities. They practice defense methods, eggbeater kick with mobility, and carrying a 4.5 kg object. Participants learn to remove an unconscious victim with assistance, perform head-first and foot-first dives, and support a victim face-up in shallow water. They swim front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke for 100 meters each, complete multiple 600-meter workouts, and swim 300 meters in under 9 minutes. First aid skills include recognizing and caring for bone or joint injuries and respiratory distress. Recognition and rescue training involves locating and describing objects from different heights and performing rescues of weak swimmers or non-swimmers using a towing aid.