International Swim & Save Program “Leucothea”
Greece 25.07.2024. On the World Drowning Prevention Day, seven international organizations launch the International Swim & Save Program “Leucothea”, to preserve human lives from aquatic related injuries through free online education on swimming, safety, resuscitation, first aid, survival, fair play, and lifesaving sport.
The problem
Our world is covered at 75% by water. Drowning is a global
public health problem, with 1 fatal death every 30 seconds. Those aged 0-5
years old, teenagers and elderly belong to a high-risk group. There is clearly
a need for preventing death in these age groups.
The solution
To achieve drowning prevention, resources are needed (money, access to training facilities) but this does not necessarily mean that such intervention is always effective or available to the potential “victims”. According to a famous quote, “the bait should be attractive to the fish and not to the fisherman.” In our today’s society, children learn how to use technology often before they are able to walk and even before their parents find the time or money to offer them proper swimming lessons. Likewise, adults spend a substantial time scrolling on their electronic devices.
The program is endorsed by the following organizations:
Greek Lifesaving Sports Association
(GLSA), International
Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association (IFSTA), International
Life Saving Federation (ILS), International
Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE),
International
Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Mediterranean
Lifesaving Confederation (MLC),
Lifesaving Network (LiNe).
Creator of Leucothea is Dr Stathis Avramidis, GLSA President, MLC Secretary General and ISHOF Every Child A Swimmer Committee Member. It was developed by the following students from Furtwangen University (Germany): Antonios Stefanakis (Greece), Takal Ebrahimkhel (Germany), Marian Ankoma-Sey (Ghana), Mohammad Sharif Azimy (Afghanistan), Basim Siddiqui (Pakistan), and Gayatri Naidu Arnapalli (India).
Content
The program is composed by 18 modules that are available online. The content deals with the issues of drowning and water safety in all aquatic environments, theories and models of water safety, rescue methods, fair play, swimming and lifesaving sport techniques and legendary figures who excelled in their career as athletes, lifeguards or administrators. The number of modules may increase in the future. Water is our world, but sky is our limit! Upon successful reading of the modules, the participants may test their understanding and receive 18 elegant certificates. This may hopefully motivate them to attend theoretical and practical on swimming and lifesaving lessons.
Comments
The ILS Secretary General, Dr Harald Vervaecke PHD, said: “Leucothea represents an important step in raising water safety awareness globally.”
The ISHOF Chairman of the Board, Dr Bill Kent, said: “Congratulations for uniting prestigious organizations and for creating a priceless modern educational means that can save lives. We are happy to support initiatives that make swimming and lifesaving education accessible to all.”
The MLC President, Dott. Giorgio Quintavalle, said: ““Leucothea is an innovative idea to reach everyone and everywhere, without being limited by time or money. Everyone with internet access can learn how to protect themselves and what to do to save others in and around the water. Congratulations!”
The ILSE President, Dirk Bissinger, said: “We appreciate the effort and contribution to drowning prevention and water safety. Thanks for adding this valuable tool to the community.”
The Deputy President of the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth and Co-Chair of the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition, Dr Steve Beerman, said: “Children need basic survival swim skills, communities need trained lifesavers. We can deliver this training in a safe and effective manner in all settings.”
The IFSTA President, Leslie Donavan, said: “We applaud the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association and the team of students from Furtwangen University for creating the International Swim & Save Program Leucothea.”
The Project Coordinator of the Lifesaving Network, Bojan Golubovic, said: “Leucothea is a beautiful and user-friendly instrument that helps us meet our constitutional goals and to use the technology for teaching swimming, survival, safety, sports across the globe.”
The GLSA President and creator of the program, Dr Stathis Avramidis, said: “In our first meeting, the team said that they should create an application as part of their academic commitments. It could be something that would improve the professional activity of any kind of client, for example the owner of a pizza restaurant. I asked: "Do you want to sell pizza or to save lives from drowning?" They were inspired and decided to help me serve a higher purpose. This is how Leucothea was born."
Advantages
The program has several advantages:
- it is available online on a 24/7/365 basis.
- It is available to every organization and individual.
- It can engage people at school, home, holidays or at a sports club.
- It offers to the youngsters the opportunity to use the technology that is so dear for gaining easily accessible knowledge.
- It helps children to build self-esteem with the certificates of accomplishment and adults to gain basic awareness and stimulation to expand their learning experiences.
- It helps organisations to make their members feel creative and become safe.
- It fulfills the mission of all the involved organisations to enhance drowning prevention and water safety at no cost.
Invitation
We encourage everyone (World Aquatics, International Life Saving Federation, National Olympic Organisations, parents, swimming and lifesaving clubs, schools, summer camps, scouts and youth organisations) to circulate and use the program. Nobody can cope drowning alone. Together we can!
Access
To access the program, click here: https://leucothea.vercel.app/
