Survival of the fittest…

Well done to the 14 Wasps swimmers who recently followed the ASA Personal Survival skills course and passed both Level One and Level Two.

During the course they learned that although they may be strong swimmers in the pool, swimming in cold water is a different matter. Over half the people who drown in open waterways in and around Great Britain every year are within about 25 metres of safety. These youngsters are now better placed to understand the impact of cold water on the body and have experienced swimming fully clothed. They had to study the theory behind personal survival techniques and had a chance to practice in the pool.

Wasps coach, Steve Archdeacon was delighted with how well the young swimmers followed the course. “Although it seems strange, strong swimmers can often get into trouble in an open water emergency as they over estimate their ability to swim in cold water which is very different to swimming in the pool. These swimmers now have a much better understanding of survival techniques and may well be able to help themselves and others in the future.”

The swimmers who took part were: