Dubai American Academy

Swimming Study Guide

Grade 8
Environmental checks ensure that rescuers do not put themselves at risk trying to help a victim. It also allows the
rescuer to assess a situation and might give them a clue(s) as to what happened to the victim.
No, Fire
No Wire
No Gas
No Glass
No Bees
No Trees
No Snakes
No Lakes
Look up, look down, look all around!
Rescuers should be aware of other hazards that are particular to their immediate surroundings (i.e. medical alert
bracelets, scorpions in Dubai (in lieu of snakes), medication lying around, blood etc)
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RESCUE BREATHING
ADULT
1. Ensure no further danger (environment check)
2. Check for responsiveness (sound, touch, pain)
3. If unresponsive, shout for help and tell bystander to call EMS/9-9-9
4. Roll person onto back (if necessary) and open airway (head tilt/chin lift)
5. Check for breathing (look, listen, feel for 510 seconds)
6. If no normal breathing is heard, simulate 2 rescue breaths (tight seal, nose pinched), each breath should last one
second
7. Performs rescue breathing at a rate of 2 breath for every 56 seconds
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FRONTCRAWL (A.K. A- Front stroke or Free Style):
The fastest stroke
Maintain neutral body position, face in the water, keeping head straight
Roll body on long axis, no hip sway
Flutter kick from hips (not from the knees)
Extend hand entry forward of head and in line with shoulders
Keep elbows high during recovery
Hand catches water at full extension point with shoulder rotation to initiate pull
Execute bent arm pull ("S" pull)
Extend pull past hips
Breathe to the side as needed (no pause), exhaling underwater (Pepsi,Coke, 7-up) or (Pepsi, Coke)
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BUTTERFLY:
The 2nd fastest stroke

Dolphin kick is used

Movement starts from head, and legs kick together from the hips

Knees lead legs during downbeat of the kick (power phase), with relaxed feet

Move in a continuous motion

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BACKCRAWL:

The 3rd fastest stroke

The Backstroke is executed totally on the back while using flutter kick
Maintain near-horizontal body in streamlined position with neck in line with spine
Roll body from side to side, keeping head stationary
Arms enter water with baby finger first (thumb out, hits your ear, pinkie in)
Arms enter and catch the water at 11:00 and 1:00 positions
Extend the pull past hips with thumbs facing up (preparing for thumb out, hits your ear.)

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BREASTSTROKE :
Is considered a "resting stroke" and slowest of the formal strokes
The stroke requires coordination of the body (pull, breathe, kick, glide)
Whip kick is used for this stroke
Body/head remains near surface
Arms recover forward to full extension (glide)
Press extended arms/palms apart slightly wider than shoulders (pull)
Bend elbows and sweep the forearms and hands downward and towards chest (breathe)
Whip feet and lower legs back to glide position with relaxed feet (kick)
Co-ordinate symmetrical arm pull and whip kick (Pull, Breath, kick, glide)

WHIP KICK (on front or back):

Recover legs symmetrically by bending hips and knees
Pull heels towards buttocks, while separating knees just wider than hips, ankles slightly outside knees
Flex feet and rotate outward
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ELEMENTARY BACK STROKE
This is a "resting stroke" and is not a formal stroke
This is a stroke that can be used in emergency situations
Whip kick on your back is used for this stroke
Maintain streamlined, horizontal back glide position, face above surface at all times
Slide palms slowly up the sides of the body
At shoulder height, arms reach outward, fingers leading (Mickey Mouse ears)
Press hands toward feet as legs kick (whip)
Arms accelerate through power phase
Glide until forward momentum slows