Discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, based on the assumption that typical abilities are “normal.”

The practice of designing spaces, programs, and communications so that all individuals can participate fully.

Someone who takes proactive, risk-involving actions to challenge injustice and support marginalized groups.

A social characteristic denoting how long a person has lived; influences lived experience and potential barriers.

Electronic devices that alert caregivers when water surface disturbances occur.

National nonprofit offering water safety, lifeguarding, and first aid training programs nationwide.

Training in facility operations, risk assessment, and program administration for aquatic venues.

Water-based rehabilitation exercises for injury recovery, pain relief, and mobility improvement.

Swum on the back with alternating arm motions and a flutter kick; requires good body alignment.

Turbulent water returning toward a pool’s skimmer after waves hit the wall, affecting swimmer stability.

Arms move symmetrically in a heart-shaped pattern while legs perform a whip kick; breath taken each stroke cycle.

Pairing swimmers so each monitors the other’s safety, ensuring help is nearby if someone gets into trouble.

Upward force exerted by water that keeps objects afloat, determined by displacement and density.

Powerful simultaneous arm recovery over water with a dolphin kick; known for its rhythmic wave-like body motion.

Proper storage, handling, and dosing of disinfectants (e.g., chlorine) to maintain safe water chemistry.

Timed races in a pool using standardized strokes over set distances.

Emergency procedure combining chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain circulation and oxygenation in a drowning victim.

CPR/AED Certification: Qualification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator operation for emergencies.

Diving: Sport involving acrobatic jumps and flips from springboards or platforms into water, judged on form and entry.

Drowning Prevention: A set of strategies—education, barriers, supervision, and emergency planning—aimed at reducing unintentional submersion incidents.

Discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, based on the assumption that typical abilities are “normal.”

The practice of designing spaces, programs, and communications so that all individuals can participate fully.

Someone who takes proactive, risk-involving actions to challenge injustice and support marginalized groups.

A social characteristic denoting how long a person has lived; influences lived experience and potential barriers.

Electronic devices that alert caregivers when water surface disturbances occur.

National nonprofit offering water safety, lifeguarding, and first aid training programs nationwide.

Training in facility operations, risk assessment, and program administration for aquatic venues.

Water-based rehabilitation exercises for injury recovery, pain relief, and mobility improvement.

Swum on the back with alternating arm motions and a flutter kick; requires good body alignment.

Turbulent water returning toward a pool’s skimmer after waves hit the wall, affecting swimmer stability.

Arms move symmetrically in a heart-shaped pattern while legs perform a whip kick; breath taken each stroke cycle.

Pairing swimmers so each monitors the other’s safety, ensuring help is nearby if someone gets into trouble.

Upward force exerted by water that keeps objects afloat, determined by displacement and density.

Powerful simultaneous arm recovery over water with a dolphin kick; known for its rhythmic wave-like body motion.

Proper storage, handling, and dosing of disinfectants (e.g., chlorine) to maintain safe water chemistry.

Timed races in a pool using standardized strokes over set distances.

Emergency procedure combining chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain circulation and oxygenation in a drowning victim.

CPR/AED Certification: Qualification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator operation for emergencies.

Diving: Sport involving acrobatic jumps and flips from springboards or platforms into water, judged on form and entry.

Drowning Prevention: A set of strategies—education, barriers, supervision, and emergency planning—aimed at reducing unintentional submersion incidents.

Written procedures specifying roles, responsibilities, and steps for responding to water-related emergencies.

Shared cultural, linguistic, or national heritage that shapes identity and community.

Physical enclosures (fences, gates) around water to restrict unsupervised access.

Training in managing non-breathing, bleeding, and injury scenarios until professional help arrives.

Cross-training, strength, and flexibility exercises tailored to improve aquatic performance.

Inverted somersault at the pool wall used to reverse swimming direction quickly during lap training.

Methods (back float, prone float) for staying buoyant with minimal movement, foundational for water confidence.

Also known as front crawl; swimmer alternates arm strokes and uses a flutter kick while breathing to the side.

Clear or tinted protective lenses that seal around the eyes to keep water out and improve underwater visibility.

Emergency cooling measures (ice packs, misting fans, hydration) for someone with elevated core temperature.

Small, heated pools designed for relaxation and hydrotherapy, typically maintained at 100–104°F (38–40°C).

Strategies to maintain fluid balance and avoid heat-related illnesses in and around water.

Study of forces and motion of water around objects, crucial for optimizing swim technique.

Procedures to rewarm and monitor a victim experiencing dangerously low body temperature.

Organization honoring achievements in aquatic sports and preserving swimming history.

Program teaching survival float and swim skills to infants, reducing drowning risk.

Buoyant boards held with the hands to isolate the legs for kick-focused drills and leg-strengthening workouts.

Natural bodies of still freshwater surrounded by land, varying in depth, clarity, and temperature.

Layers of Protection: Multiple safety measures (barriers, supervision, education, rescue equipment) combined to reduce drowning risk.

Personal flotation devices designed to keep the wearer’s head above water, available in varying buoyancy levels.

Credential demonstrating proficiency in surveillance, prevention, and rescue techniques at pools or beaches.

Advanced credential authorizing the training and certification of new lifeguards.

Standardized hand gestures and whistle codes used by lifeguards to communicate warnings and emergency instructions.

National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA): Coalition of professionals focused on reducing global drowning through research and outreach.

Vast saline bodies of water with tides, waves, and marine life; open-water conditions demand advanced skills and safety protocols.

Long-distance races or swims in natural bodies of water, facing currents, waves, and navigational challenges.

Visual indicators (tiles or signs) showing water depth to inform safe diving and entry practices.

Methods for removing an incapacitated swimmer from the water onto deck or platform.

Public awareness initiative by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to promote pool and spa safety.

A posted code of conduct (no running, no diving in shallow areas, etc.) designed to minimize injury risks around pools.

Man-made basins filled with treated water, either enclosed (indoor) or exposed (outdoor), for swimming and recreation.

Proper Warm-Up/Cool-Down: Dynamic stretches before swimming and gentle movements afterward to reduce injury and aid recovery.

Pull Buoys: Foam buoys placed between the thighs to immobilize the legs, forcing swimmers to focus on upper-body technique.

Social grouping by perceived physical traits (skin color, facial features); lacks biological basis.

Extending a pole, towel, or other object to a swimmer in distress so they can grab on.

Providing breaths to a non-breathing victim to maintain oxygenation until normal breathing resumes.

Keeping life rings, reaching poles, and backboards within easy reach of all aquatic areas.

Narrow, powerful channel of fast-moving water flowing away from shore, requiring swim-parallel escape techniques.

Flowing freshwater courses that present currents, variable depths, and obstacles—requiring special safety considerations.

Guidelines (checking water depth, using proper form) to prevent head, neck, and spinal injuries.

Safe Kids Worldwide: Organization dedicated to preventing childhood injuries through education, advocacy, and community programs.

Qualification focused on pool environments less than five feet deep, emphasizing in-water rescues.

Tubes that allow swimmers to breathe while keeping their face in the water, used to refine stroke technique without turning the head.

Techniques to stabilize the spine and prevent further injury during water rescues.

Standing on a board and using a paddle to move across calm or rolling water.

Reducing drag by aligning the body straight with arms extended overhead, commonly used off starts and walls.

Use of sunscreen, rash guards, and shade to prevent UV damage during outdoor water activities.

Best practices (scanning, rotation of duties, minimizing distractions) to maintain vigilant oversight.

Coastal areas where waves break, creating dynamic conditions for bodyboarding, surfing, and wave riding.

Surfing: Riding waves on a board, requiring balance, timing, and knowledge of ocean conditions.

Adjustable buoyancy belts that support beginner swimmers or aid instructors in teaching floating and kicking skills.

Swim Caps: Stretchy coverings (usually silicone or latex) worn on the head to reduce drag, contain hair, and protect it from chlorine.

Flexible, foot-mounted blades that increase propulsion and help strengthen leg muscles during training.

Designated lanes in a pool marked by ropes or lane lines to organize traffic and prevent collisions.

The critical role of formal instruction in equipping individuals with survival and stroke skills.

Online platform providing standardized swim instructor certification and curriculum resources.

Artistic routines of synchronized moves and patterns performed to music by duets or teams.

A layer in a body of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth, affecting swimmer comfort.

Principle advising rescuers to throw a flotation device rather than enter the water, minimizing risk.

Rocky shore depressions that fill with seawater at high tide, offering shallow areas for exploration.

Maintaining an upright position by sculling with the hands and kicking with the legs to stay afloat in one spot.

Multisport events combining swimming, cycling, and running over varied distances.

Volunteer unit supporting maritime safety, including boating education and water rescue assistance.

Commercial recreational facilities featuring water slides, wave pools, and play structures with specialized safety controls.

Water Polo: Team sport played in a pool where players pass and shoot a ball to score goals against opponents.

Range of approaches (reaching assists, throwing assists, wading rescues) to safely help distressed swimmers.

Certification allowing one to teach swim lessons, covering stroke development and student progression.

Water Supervision: Continuous, attentive oversight of swimmers by qualified personnel or an assigned adult to prevent accidents.

A designated, undistracted adult who actively monitors swimmers for signs of distress.

Diseases caused by pathogens in contaminated water, such as giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis.

Specialized certification for supervising open-water sites such as beaches, lakes, and ponds.

Classifications of surface water waves (wind-driven, swell, tsunami) with distinct origins and behaviors.

Community-based swim lessons and aquatic safety education offered by local YMCA branches.