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Lesson 2 takes a closer look at one of the key water safety rules: a person should never swim alone. Lifeguards, other capable adult water watchers and a water buddy are all part of the water safety team that helps participants stay safer in, on and around the water. The lesson reinforces the importance of learning to swim to help oneself be as safe as possible.
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Lesson 1: Do Your Part, Be Water Smart
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Lesson 3: First Look Around: Is the Scene Safe and Sound?
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Toys may be fun, but as Piper learns, it’s even better to have a “real” water buddy by your side for every swim adventure.
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When it comes to water safety, there’s just no substitute for a well-trained, well-equipped lifeguard—especially not this NPC-version!
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Coloring Sheet Download PDF
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2-1: My Water Safety Team Download PDF
2-2: Ready for Lifeguard Duty! Download PDF
Answer Key Download PDF
Lesson 2 Caregiver Letter Download PDF
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*PDF file includes the lesson plan, activity sheets, coloring sheet and caregiver letter.
Thank you for teaching the Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program! Every student counts! Help us track our impact and make water safety accessible for all by recording your outreach effort below. The process is quick and easy!
Log in first to the Red Cross Learning Center and then select button below or Resources > Learn to Swim/Safety Outreach > Record Safety Outreach and complete the brief form.
Learn to Swim/Safety Outreach
Select Record Safety Outreach and complete the brief form.
Drowning Prevention & Safety Outreach
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No. The Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program curriculum is made available for free for use by the public. The Red Cross does not control anyone who downloads and offers this curriculum in their community. Those who use the curriculum must comply with their local and state regulations.
No. Anyone can teach the Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program. To teach Longfellow’s WHALE Tales, you simply need to orient to the new materials. You do not need an instructor certificate to teach.
Longfellow's WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children curriculum is made available for anyone to download in their community. The Red Cross does not exercise any accountability over people who may offer this program in a community.
No. There is no basic-level certification requirement to teach Longfellow’s WHALE Tales. The only requirement is to orient to the materials. Leaders are encouraged to take the free Becoming an Ambassador for Water Safety online course. This course can be found at www.redcross.org/take-a-class.
No swimming ability or water safety knowledge is required to deliver the lessons.
The full Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program is available in English and Spanish.
English-language program materials can be accessed in the following ways:
Spanish-language materials can be accessed in the following ways:
The following materials are available for purchase on the Red Cross Store (redcross.org/store)
Thank you for reporting your teaching activity! This important step helps the Red Cross learn more about how this program is being used, who is being reached and how well we are meeting the needs of leaders and participants.
The way you report depends on whether you are a currently certified Red Cross instructor or not.
The same information will be collected regardless of the type of leader reporting. The primary difference is that the leader’s name and organization will be auto populated for Red Cross Instructors while all others will need to complete those fields. Additionally, required information includes organization type, lessons taught and students reached. Teaching activity should be reported for each “complete teaching event.” The following provides examples as a complete teaching event:
No. There are flexible delivery options. Leaders can choose which lessons and the number of lessons to deliver. Guidance is provided on the sequence of lessons. Leaders are encouraged to follow the lesson plans provided as closely as possible. Leaders are also encouraged to adapt the language and activities as needed based on the age and learning level of the children, teaching setting, available resources, local references and available time.
If you feel this program was delivered in a way that is inconsistent with the values of the American Red Cross, please contact support@redcrosstraining.org.
Life jackets play an important role in helping keep children safer while surfing. Life jackets help them stay warm. Children are often less experienced in the water and may not have the same strength and endurance as adults. Children may also be less aware of ocean hazards, such as rip current or changing tides. Wearing a life jacket can provide children with the needed extra buoyancy, allowing them to stay afloat more easily and conserve their energy. For more information about surfing and safety precautions, be sure to consult with surfing professionals local to the area.
In this lesson, Mateo calls for help because he is starting to get tired. He recognized that he was having trouble and was able to call for help.
Some models of external processors have waterproofing options and can be used in the water. Anyone with cochlear implants should discuss these options with their audiologist.
American Red Cross grants you a limited, revocable right to download, publicly perform and publicly display these materials solely for education purposes consistent with all requirements set forth by American Red Cross for use of these materials. The license granted to you by the American Red Cross will terminate immediately if you use these materials in any manner that is unsafe or inconsistent with the mission and values of the American Red Cross or instructions provided for use of these materials by American Red Cross ; if your use of these materials violates any local, state or federal rules or regulations; if you misrepresent your relationship with the Red Cross as other than providing instruction in free course materials made available by the American Red Cross without instructor qualification to further public safety; if you modify the materials in any way; or if you charge a fee for offering a course using these materials.
