Parent's Guide to Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Ages 0+ 2026-27

Preschool is a five-level module for children 3 to 5 years old. It develops an appreciation and healthy respect for the water. Through basic aquatic progressions, the Society works to ensure 3 to 5-year-olds become comfortable in the water and have fun acquiring a foundation of water skills. Classes are suggested at 30 minutes with 4 to 6 children per instructor.

Sources: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6); https://www.lifesaving.ca/swim-for-life

Swimmer is a six-level module for children 5 years and older. It makes sure children learn how to swim before they get in too deep, and suits absolute beginners as well as swimmers who want to build on the basics. It stresses lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. Swimmer 1 and 2 classes are suggested at 30 minutes with 6 to 8 children per instructor, and Swimmer 3 to 6 at 45 minutes.

Sources: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6); https://www.lifesaving.ca/swim-for-life

• Adult Swimmer (3 levels) is for people over 16 years. With certified instructors, candidates set their own goals, whether they are just starting out or improving their swimming and fitness, and develop water confidence and smooth, recognizable strokes.
• Fitness Swimmer is for swimmers of any age who want to improve their overall physical fitness in the water. It uses interval training, sprints and distance swims, and candidates set their own goals.

Sources: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6); https://www.lifesaving.ca/swim-for-life

The Canadian Swim to Survive standard is a minimum national standard of swimming skill: the essential minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. It is three steps in sequence:

1. Roll into deep water.
2. Tread water for one minute.
3. Swim 50 metres.

It is aimed mainly at children, but the Society says people of all ages should be able to perform it, and no prior swimming experience is required. The Society notes that a wide range of aquatic training is available well beyond this minimum, and Swim for Life content includes Swim to Survive skills.

Sources: https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/swim-to-survive.aspx; Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 5).

No. The Society says Swim to Survive is not meant to replace traditional swimming lessons, but it is a great way to encourage people to pursue further training. It can run as a stand-alone program or as part of the Swim for Life continuum, and suits groups from schools and camps with limited time and mixed abilities.

• Prerequisite: none.
• Who teaches: any current swimming instructor, from any agency. Current swimming instructors or National Lifeguards evaluate candidates.
• Recognition: a certificate. There is no recertification.
• Time: 3 hours in the water as a stand-alone program (6 hours, 3 in a classroom and 3 in the water, through the school grant program).
• Swim to Survive+ builds on it with real-life situations for children in Grade 7.

Sources: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 5); https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/swim-to-survive.aspx

Current Lifesaving Society Swim Instructors teach and certify all Swim for Life levels, and a Lifesaving Swim Instructor evaluates all items. Instructors use the Swim for Life Award Guide and Teaching Swim for Life. The program is delivered in person only.

Swim for Life content is organized as entries and exits, movement and swimming skills, surface support, fitness, underwater skills, Water Smart education and Swim to Survive skills.

Sources: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6); https://www.lifesaving.ca/swim-for-life

The Society's suggested class length and size (per instructor) are:

Eight lessons per session are recommended. Providers may adapt these suggestions for pool space, depth, volunteers or assistant instructors, regulations and the number of classes per session.

Source: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6).

Swim for Life awards never need recertifying, and there is no prerequisite for any module. Lifejackets are required in Swim for Life classes, and other learn-to-swim accessories and toys (sinking objects, kickboards, pull buoys, noodles, floating toys) are recommended.

Swim for Life licensees may buy badges and seals (stickers) as optional recognition: Parent & Tot has seals only (no badges), while Preschool and Swimmer have both badges and seals. Candidates need no required reference books.

Source: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Section 6).

The Lifesaving Society designed the Swim for Life modules to flow into the basic lifesaving awards: Rookie, Ranger and Star Patrol (Canadian Swim Patrol). These are often programmed as the top three levels of a learn-to-swim continuum and appear in the class-size chart as Swimmer 7, 8 and 9.

• Rookie Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, and basic first aid for conscious victims.
• Ranger Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 75 m swims of each stroke, a lifesaving medley, and first aid for unconscious victims and obstructed airways.
• Star Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims, and first aid for bone and joint injuries.

None of the three has a prerequisite or needs recertification. Beyond Swim Patrol, the Society's lifesaving awards continue with Bronze Star (10 hours, no prerequisite), then Bronze Medallion (minimum age 13, or Bronze Star), then Bronze Cross, which is a prerequisite for National Lifeguard.

Source: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Sections 6 and 7).