Purpose:
To refine strokes so students swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances.

To teach students how to prevent aquatic emergencies in open water environments

To introduce and practice self-rescue techniques

Prerequisite:
American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 5: Stroke Refinement certificate or demonstrate all completion requirements in Level 5

Certification Requirements:
Successfully complete the following exit skills assessment:

1. Swim 500 yards continuously using strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards, elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke, 50 yards; butterfly, 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards.
2. Jump into deep water, demonstrate a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and demonstrate a back float for 5 minutes.
3. Demonstrate a feet-first surface dive and retrieve and object from a depth of 7 feet, return to the surface and return to the starting point.

Key Elements of Level 6 Program:

• Increase endurance while performing the following strokes:
  • Front crawl–100 yards
  • Back crawl–100 yards
  • Butterfly–50 yards
  • Elementary backstroke–50 yards
  • Breaststroke–50 yards
  • Sidestroke–50 yards
• Demonstrate the following turns while swimming:
  • Front crawl open turn
  • Backstroke open turn
  • Sidestroke open turn
  • Front flip turn
  • Backstroke flip
  • Butterfly Turn
  • Breaststroke Turn
  • The Risk of Drowning
  • The Risk of Head, Neck or Back Injury
  • General Water Safety Tips
  • Additional Water Safety Tips
  • Diving Safety
  • Life Jackets
  • Water Activities and Safety
  • Boating
  • Emergency Action Steps
• Emergency Action Plan
• Do It Yourself Project: Emergency
• Contact Information Sheet
• Helping Others
• Reach, Throw, Don't Go
• Rescue Breathing
• General Health Tips for Outdoor Water Activities