First Class Swimming

[mhjacobson]

Oops -- forgot to state that a medical condition in itself is not a bar to the scout being able to meet the requirement, it will not be waived/substituted.

In many cases having psychomotor epilepsy may not be a bar for the swimming requirment having to be met unless the epilspsy is so severe that there is a physical impossibility of meeting the requirement. The contents of the packet that goes to the advancement committee will be used by the committee to make that determination.

[PPC_NYLT]

Wapiti, what you have to remember is that while drowning is a definite possability, it is highly highly unlikely, becuase your son will always be supervised by a BSA Lifeguard while at a scout camp swimming area. If you feel that the lifeguards are not paying attention enought to the swimmers in the water or you feel that they should pay special attention to your son you should talk to the waterfront director. Waterfront directors are there to ensure safety and enjoyment for all scouts at the waterfront. Also, I know many camps offer instructional swim periods where lifeguards work 1-on-1 with scouts. There are many oppurtunities that waterfronts offer for scouts who have some difficulty swimming and your son should take advantage of them.

[FrankJ]

The summer camps I have been to, the swim test which is pretty much the first class requirement, is highly supervised with the life guards focusing only on the swimmers being tested.

The rank requirements can be done in a pool, even the same one your son takes lessons. The requirements do not require that your son swim unattended. Your troop should be able to arrange something mutually agreeable to allow the requirements to be fully met & letting you be comfortable with your son's safety

[WVBeaver05]

I too have seen that the current swim testing appears to always be 1 guard per swimmer and they have been paying close attention all the times that I have watched.

This is quite unlike years gone by when it was 1 to 1 for the beginner's test, and 1 or 2 guards for 6 Scouts taking the swimmer's test. I asked about it and was told that this is the new requirement for giving the test.

YiS

[scoutaholic]

My concern, as far as my son having epilepsy, is having a seizure while in the water. ... he can swim, but he's always had private lessons, where the instructor is only focused on him. I take him to the pool, but I'm always watching him & I'm never more than about 5 strokes from him, in case he does have a seizure. ...

... they do their Aquatics at summer camp, and I know that they don't have the staff to focus only on one child.

As far as the other aquatic related MBs, he would have to avoid them, and he can substitute Hiking for Swimming. It's just the price he has to pay for his disability.

Last summer at camp, I was working closely with the aquatics director and waterfront staff while I was earning my BSA Lifeguard certification.

In most cases when several scouts were doing the swim test, there were at least 3 lifeguards supervising the tests. They did 5 or 6 boys in the water at one time. Lifeguards were placed so that the boys were always within a few yards of a lifeguard. They asked every boy before he got into the water if he had asthma, heart problems, etc, etc, so they would know if they needed to watch that boy more carefully. When administering the Swimmer test with a group, they will usually watch all the boys closely at the start and can recognize any that struggle. They pay close attention to those boys the whole time.

In your sons case, he would just need to tell them that he has epilepsy, and he will have individual attention for his swim test.
While it is true that there are many scouts who want to do the aquatics activities, and only limited staff. They are usually good about working with a boys needs if they are aware. That is part of their job when supervising water activities (see Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat guidelines) to be aware of special needs and watch those boys closely. If the staff is aware they can make sure your son is watched while he is rowing/canoeing/sailing/etc. I'm sure they could make sure the instructor is his 'buddy' when they do the swamping and he is actually in the water. Swimming and Lifesaving MBs may be harder for the staff to give individualized attention, but if they are made aware I'm sure they would make what arrangements they can. (At camp last year, there was always 2-3 aquatics staff guys who were not currently teaching a class. They could be pulled in to help where needed.) I did see several cases where some of the boys at camp got individual attention with aquatics staff.

[Mrw]

We had a boy with cerebral palsy in the troop several years ago and he did pass the swim test at camp when I took them. The only part he could not do was to jump in feet first - they held him over the end and dropped him in.

They were not happy about having a boy who arrived at the pool in a wheelchair with crutches even taking the test, But I knew he had taken lessons and could swim well enough to pass it and I insisted they let him try.

He definitely had the lifeguard along the side of the pool keeping a very close eye on him every second of the test.

My advice would be to have his private lesson instructor give him the test and write a certifying note to whomever would sign for that requirement in his book. Nothing says he has to do this in a group setting or at scout camp.

[cballman]

Ok here is my take on this subject. as a BSA lifeguard and a parent I have had the most wonderful time working with kids who and there parents have said they couldnt swim. after 4 years of working with the waterfront staff at camp I have only had to help one child who just couldnt float and keep his head out of the water while swimming. he swam great but was just like a submarine and started out on top but went directly to the bottom. but he TRIED. now the bad part we as parents hate to see our children fail. but when we give our children an excuse as to why they cant do something then they will use it for the rest of their lives. if a child can get into the water and play around the it would ony take someone helping them to swim. if there is a medical condition then its best to know about that ahead of time then there can be someone extra to take care of that child. I have also given swim test for our troop before summer camp and the waterfront staff thanked me for doing it ahead of time. lastly as a BSA Lifeguard I take the water very serious. and as someone who has lived on the river most of my young life I have had to help pull two people out of the water deceased. I dont want to have to do that anymore so guess what I watch out for everbody and most people dont question me about the water and safety rules.