Take a Breath

​An ability to control breathing, submerge and swim underwater are essential learning outcomes in swimming and water safety education.  Simple you say, but how safe is your approach to teaching these skills?  

Are you:

 >Aware of the risks?
 >Managing risk?
 >Enhancing student awareness of the dangers?
 
“What’s the risk?”. Hypoxic (hypoxia) blackout may result in loss of consciousness and even death.
 
What is hypoxia?
Hypoxia is described as a condition in which the whole body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.  
 
Hypoxia and hypoxic blackout are closely linked with hyperventilation.
 
Swimming and water Safety Lessons
In swimming and water safety, hypoxia is associated with students as they undertake breath holding and underwater activity; either self-directed or instructed by the teacher.
 
Risk Awareness
Underwater and ‘at surface’ activity both present risk of hypoxic blackout. The risk is reduced at the water’s surface as it is easier for a student to self-initiate breathing.
 
‘Breath holding blackout’ may also be known as ‘shallow water blackout’ and both terms relate to extended breath holding.  Unconsciousness occurs when a lack of oxygen is provided to the blood cells. Students activities such as ‘lung busters’ or extended underwater swimming over set distances are considered at risk activities.
 
Activity that can lead to hypoxic blackout include:
>  Underwater swimming
>  Underwater kicking
>  Breath holding – with propulsion or as a stationary activity
 
Complications with permanent brain damage, disability and respiratory infection can occur even after successful resuscitation has been initiated.
 
Managing Risk
The danger of hypoxic blackout must be considered by every AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety. 

Complications with permanent brain damage, disability and respiratory infection can occur even after successful resuscitation has been initiated.
 
Providers of swimming and water safety education should undertake a risk analysis of the program curriculum to ensure safety and liability concerns are addressed in a risk management strategy.
 
AUSTSWIM Teachers of swimming and water safety must ensure:
>  Students take only one deep breath prior to submersion
>  Student awareness of breathing, as required, is a priority learning outcome
>  Inhalation and exhalation are learnt skills in water. Extended or repeated breath holding does not form part ofsafer aquatic learning outcomes.
>  Competitions, games and challenges relating to breath holding and/or underwater distance swimming have no place in swimming and water safety education programs
>  That regardless of the skill being taught or practised, students must be aware of re-surfacing for a breath as required.
 
Being confident and comfortable underwater is an essential aquatic skill, BUT being educated in safe breathing practices is an essential life skill that AUSTSWIM teachers must incorporate into every lesson.
 
 
References:
Y-USA newsletter April 2016
Aquatics International / AOAP Dying for Air – Tom Roberts 2004/2005
Y-USA statement medical advisory committee 2011
ASCTA position paper – 2016 ​