Requirements November 1965 until June 1972

To obtain this merit badge, you must first have met the merit badge requirements for Swimming, demonstrated your endurance and stamina by completing a 440-yard swim, and spent at least 6 hours in preparation and practice:

1. Explain:

(a) The Safe Swim Defense plan for unit swimming.
(b) The order of methods to be followed in lifesaving.

2. Demonstrate reaching rescues involving the use of arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, or poles.

3. Demonstrate rescues using thrown equipment including heaving lines, ring buoys, and free-floating supports such as boat cushions or planks.

4. Demonstrate the use of boats, canoes, paddle boards, or other floating devices in making rescues.

5. With the aid of a buddy and a subject, demonstrate a line rescue both as line tender and as rescuer, using a 50-foot length of rescue line. If available, a torpedo buoy on a surf line should also be demonstrated.

6. Demonstrate, on two occasions, your ability to remove street clothes*, except underpants or swim trunks, in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before attempting a swimming rescue.

7. Make a leaping or running entry into the water and demonstrate the correct approach to a drowning person who is in the following position: back to you-rear approach; face to you, head above or below water-front surface approach.

8. Without losing sight of a struggling person, enter the water feet first by jumping or running and

(a) Swim 30 feet, make the correct approach, and tow the subject 30 feet to shore with a cross chest tow.

(b) Swim 30 feet, make the correct approach and tow the subject 30 feet to shore with a wrist tow. In each case place the subject on a deck or shore, using the proper lift to carry him from the water.

9. Demonstrate in deep water your defense against grasps by blocking, turning, and placing the subject in position for towing ashore.

10. Swim 30 feet, make the correct approach to a tired swimmer, and move him 30 feet to safety using:

(a) Foot push,
(b) Underarm swim-along, and
(c) Tired swimmer's push (subject on back).

11. Make four surface dives in 6 to 8 feet of water, recovering various objects three times and a 10-pound weight once.

12. Demonstrate underwater search techniques:

(a) As a part of a "lost bathers drill" team.
(b) As an independent diver using a mask, fins, and a snorkel (not scuba)

13. While disrobing in the water show how street clothes* can be inflated to provide support using your shirt, trousers, and pockets. Then swim 100 yards.

14. Explain artificial respiration. Demonstrate your ability to apply rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose method) and a manual method (chest-pressure arm-lift or back-pressure arm-lift).

*Street clothes means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), trousers, belt, long-sleeved shirt or sweater or sweatshirt.