Swim by American Red Cross is a free mobile device app to promote water safety for parents and caregivers of individuals learning how to swim. Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Kindle Fire users, the Swim app helps track progress in Red Cross swim lessons and play safety-themed games.
An excellent, must-have app for learning more about water safety, the Swim by American Red Cross app includes simple steps, illustrations and descriptive instructions users can take to ensure the safety of non-swimmers, new swimmers and even experienced swimmers in a variety of environments. BridgingApps reviewed the Swim by American Red Cross app with a certified lifeguard working with Preschool Aquatics Level 1 swimmers through Teen Learn to Swim Level 6 swimmers.
Within the Progress portion of the app, swimmers learn and earn badges as follows:
Preschool Aquatics Level 1 – Exploring Under the Water, Swim and Exit and How to Call for Help
Preschool Aquatics Level 2 – Exploring Under the Water, Swim and Exit and How to Call for Help
Preschool Aquatics Level 3 – Bobbing and Combined Stroke on Front
Learn to Swim Level 1 – Exploring Under Water, Swim and Exit and How to Call for Help
Learn to Swim Level 2 – Bobbing and Combined Stroke on Front
Learn to Swim Level 3 – Back Float, Water Competency, Life Jacket, Reach or Throw, Don’t Go and My First 25
Learn to Swim Level 4 – Tread Water, Elementary Backstroke, Sidestroke, My First 50, Lifeguard Prep and WSI prep
Learn to Swim Level 5 – Front Crawl, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, Flip Turn, Shallow Angle Dive, 100 Yard Swim, Lifeguard Prep and WSI Prep
Learn to Swim Level 6 – Personal Water Safety, Fundamentals of Diving and Fitness Swimmer
During our trial, reviewers found the illustrations within the app to be very helpful for young and nonverbal users. Earning virtual badges encouraged new swimmers to continue through lessons, even when they became frustrated. And, the badges even motivated experienced and advanced swimmers to develop more difficult skills.
The Safety area of the app includes detailed information and life-saving tips on prevention, emergencies, where drowning’s occur and life jackets. Anyone who swims or cares for non-swimmers should learn water safety and review it often.
With the app, there are quizzes aimed at adults on swim safety while at lakes & rivers, beaches, and fact or fiction questions. There are also kid-friendly videos and quizzes on the following topics: Be Cool, Follow the Rules, Don’t Just Pack It, Wear Your Jacket, Swim As a Pair, Reach or Throw, Don’t Go, Watch for Water. We found it useful for caregivers to watch these videos initially with children to discuss the content presented, as the videos serve as a powerful video-modeling tool. Kids with processing difficulties enjoyed watching the videos repeatedly, which helped recall of rules at a later time. We also found it helpful for kids’ long term memory in a swimming environment, whether it was a neighborhood pool, swim lessons or a beach vacation.