Our longtime partner, SwimTayka from the UK, continues to support our mission.

This year, they sent one of their experienced trainers, Amie Henderson, to help improve our team’s qualifications and emergency readiness. As part of our annual instructor training, our team participated in two internationally recognized certifications:

• International First Aid (6 hours)
  
• International Water Safety and Lifesaving Course

A recent incident during our swimming class—a near-drowning of a young visitor—was a sobering reminder of how crucial it is for our instructors to respond quickly and confidently in emergencies. In this case, it was the first time our team had to perform CPR on a drowning victim, and the experience made it clear that annual training alone is not enough.

Instructors often find themselves rescuing not just our students but also other pool visitors who may be in danger. That’s why this year’s training put extra emphasis on real-life emergency scenarios and how to act with speed and confidence.

Day 1: First Aid & CPR

Amie led the team through the fundamentals of first aid, including how to identify injuries and provide early treatment. We also practiced CPR in depth—learning not just the technique, but how to coordinate and support each other as a team during resuscitation.

Day 2: Lifesaving Skills at the Pool

The second day focused on lifeguarding skills—how to respond during an emergency at the pool, safely evacuate students, and clear the path for rescue. Instructors practiced various rescue holds and how to provide immediate first aid depending on the condition of the victim.

Next On Our List

Though the training is complete, our work continues. We are now developing emergency response plans with different real-life scenarios and integrating routine practice drills into our weekly schedule. Our goal is clear: not only to prevent drowning, but to ensure every instructor knows exactly how to act when it happens—for our students, our team, and anyone in need.