Development of Survival Swimming Programs for People With Disabilities

Abstract

Kim, K.-B.; Oh, C.; Ji, J.-G.; Choi, K.-H.; Kim, E.-J., and Nam-Jo, S.K., 2021. Development of survival swimming programs for people with disabilities. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S.; and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 637–641. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This study advocates for the development of a survival swimming program for people with disabilities by examining survival swimming training in Korea and other countries. As the memory of the MV Sewol tragedy is still vivid, the need for appropriate safety protocols, including swimming for survival in the event of a disaster, is clear. Government officials and related industry professionals must develop more comprehensive maritime safety protocols. Survival swimming programs are available in schools and to the public. Although prior research has examined the importance of these programs, no studies have been conducted on survival swimming programs for people with disabilities, who may learn these techniques to save their lives in times of crisis and enjoy safe leisure activities in the water. This study suggests the following: First, the focus of swimming programs in Korea should be on survival and safe swimming. Second, survival swimming education should be required by law. Third, it is necessary to develop swimming programs and guidelines for people with disabilities and to standardize them by creating detailed and specialized programs. Survival swimming programs for both the general public and people with disabilities must meet global standards and carefully consider participants' disability status and specific environmental factors of the programs' locations.