Water Activity Safety Policy

1. POLICY STATEMENT

Water-based activities—including swimming, wading, snorkeling, boating, and other aquatic pursuits—carry significant inherent risks that may result in serious injury or death. This policy establishes mandatory safety protocols governing all water activities conducted in connection with School for International Training (SIT) programs, whether occurring during formal program activities or independent participant time.

The risks associated with water environments are numerous, variable, and frequently non-obvious. They include, but are not limited to:

Currents, rip tides, and undertows — which are often invisible from the surface and can overpower even strong swimmers within seconds
Unpredictable or concealed water depth — including sudden drop-offs, submerged obstacles, and variations that are not apparent from shore
Cold water temperature — which can cause rapid onset of hypothermia, muscular incapacitation, and cognitive impairment, significantly reducing a swimmer’s ability to self-rescue
Dangerous or venomous aquatic wildlife — including but not limited to jellyfish, sea urchins, stingrays, snakes, crocodilians, and venomous fish species, the presence of which varies significantly by region and season
Waterborne bacteria and pathogens — including but not limited to E. coli, Vibrio, and Leptospira, which may be present in both freshwater and marine environments and can cause serious or life-threatening illness
Waterborne viruses — including hepatitis A, norovirus, and adenoviruses, which may survive in recreational water bodies and are not always detectable by appearance or odor
Parasitic organisms — including Schistosoma species and Naegleria fowleri, which are present in specific freshwater environments and can cause severe, irreversible harm
Harmful algal blooms — which may produce toxins dangerous to human health and are not always visually identifiable
Weather and environmental changes — including lightning, flash flooding, and rapidly shifting tidal conditions, which can transform a safe environment into a life-threatening one with little warning
Impaired judgment — including the effects of alcohol, medication, fatigue, or overconfidence, all of which significantly increase drowning risk

The risks enumerated above are illustrative, not exhaustive. Conditions vary substantially across international program locations, and hazards present in one setting may differ entirely from those encountered in another. Participants and staff must approach every water environment as a distinct risk context requiring independent assessment.

NOTICE: Any water activity not expressly planned, organized, and supervised by SIT program staff is undertaken at the sole risk of the participant. SIT cannot prohibit participants from engaging in water activities during independent time; however, participants must understand that water environments present serious, life-threatening dangers.
Program participants must also comply with SIT’s Prohibited Activities policy which outlines the following water activities as prohibited due to the high risk of serious injury or death: jet skiing, surfing, parasailing, scuba diving, entering a body of water from height, and white water rafting. Compliance with the guidelines set forth in this policy materially reduces—but does not eliminate—those risks.

2. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

This policy applies to:

All enrolled SIT program participants, regardless of swimming ability or prior water experience
All SIT staff, Center Directors, and designated program leaders
All water activities occurring in connection with program activities or during free time
All natural and artificial bodies of water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, pools, and hot springs

3. CATEGORIES OF PERMITTED WATER ACTIVITIES

3.1 Program-Organized Activities
Water activities formally planned, facilitated, and implemented by SIT staff as part of the approved curriculum or program itinerary are permitted provided all of the following conditions are satisfied:

Direct supervision by a qualified SIT staff member and/or a certified lifeguard is maintained at all times
Appropriate safety and rescue equipment is present and immediately accessible
The activity site has been verified by program partners as low-risk under the prevailing conditions
All requirements set forth in Section 4 of this policy are met prior to activity commencement

3.2 Independent Recreational Activities
SIT recognizes that participants may wish to engage in water activities during designated independent time. Participants who choose to do so assume full personal responsibility and must, prior to entering any body of water:

Conduct a thorough independent safety assessment using the criteria set forth in Section 4 of this policy
Research local environmental conditions, including tidal patterns, current strength, known wildlife hazards, and seasonal risks
Consult with local providers or guides regarding site-specific safety considerations
Confirm that all applicable requirements in Section 4 can be satisfied

Participants who are unable or unwilling to satisfy all Section 4 requirements are expected to refrain from water activity until compliant conditions can be established.

4. MANDATORY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements apply to all water activities—both program-organized and independent—without exception.

4.1 Swimming Ability Self-Assessment
All participants must honestly assess their own swimming proficiency prior to any water activity:

Participants who identify as non-swimmers or weak swimmers may not enter water exceeding knee depth unless wearing an approved, properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD)
Swim proficiency is self-determined; participants are expected to exercise honest judgment about their abilities and to err on the side of caution
Misrepresentation of swimming ability that results in an unsafe situation constitutes a violation of this policy

4.2 Site Evaluation — Staff Responsibility
Prior to any group water activity, the Center Director or designated SIT staff member must:

Conduct a direct visual assessment of the activity site, including pools
Consult with local partners and/or the Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing (SHSW) office regarding known hazards
Evaluate all of the following environmental factors: currents and tidal conditions, weather forecast and real-time conditions, local aquatic wildlife and environmental hazards, water depth across the activity area, and water temperature
Ensure at least one SIT staff member is physically present and attentive throughout any group water activity
Defer to a safer alternative location or postpone the activity when any doubt exists regarding site safety

IMPORTANT: When in doubt, do not proceed. The decision to postpone or relocate a water activity due to safety concerns is supported by the institution.

4.3 Approved Water Conditions
The following conditions are required for participation in any water activity:

Swimming is permitted only in lifeguard-supervised pools or enclosed, assessed water bodies
Approved itinerary activities (e.g., snorkeling, boating) conducted by trained guides are permitted provided rescue devices are present
Wading in moving water is permitted only in locations where participants can stand safely and stably

CRITICAL SAFETY NOTE: Currents, undertows, and other non-obvious risks are frequently invisible and unpredictable. All participants are required to exit the water immediately upon observing any sign of changing or dangerous conditions. Staff must not hesitate to enforce this requirement.

4.4 Pre-Activity Safety Briefing — Staff Requirement
Before any organized water activity commences, the responsible SIT staff member must conduct a verbal safety briefing covering all of the following:

Specific risk precautions applicable to the site and activity
Known environmental hazards and current water conditions
Activity limitations, restrictions, and out-of-bounds areas
Emergency procedures, including the location of rescue equipment and how to summon emergency services

Documentation of the briefing (participants present, topics covered, date and time) must be retained by the Center Director.

4.5 Emergency Preparedness
All water activities—program-organized or otherwise—require:

Emergency services accessible within reasonable proximity to the activity site
Clear, pre-established communication protocols for summoning emergency assistance
Knowledge of the nearest hospital or medical facility capable of treating drowning or cold water incidents

4.6 Rescue Protocols
Participants and program leaders are prohibited from attempting in-water swimming rescues under any circumstances. In-water rescue by untrained individuals is a leading cause of secondary drowning deaths. If a participant is observed in distress:

Alert emergency services immediately via the appropriate local emergency number
Use available throw ropes, rings, or other rescue devices to assist from shore or poolside
Follow emergency protocols established during program orientation
Maintain visual contact with the distressed individual at all times
Designate one person to manage bystanders and preserve access for emergency services

5. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
The following activities are strictly prohibited at all times due to the risk of serious injury, paralysis, or death. These prohibitions apply to all participants and staff without exception:

PROHIBITED ACTIVITY	RATIONALE
Diving into water	Risk of spinal injury or death from unseen obstacles or shallow depth
Jumping into water from elevation	Impact force and depth uncertainty create severe injury risk
Running into water	Loss of footing and sudden immersion in unknown conditions
Running near bodies of water	Uneven or wet terrain creates high fall and injury risk
Swimming alone	No immediate rescue capacity if distress occurs
Swimming under the influence of alcohol or drugs	Severely impairs judgment, coordination, and survival response
Swimming at night or in low visibility	Inability to assess hazards or locate a distressed swimmer
Scuba diving	Requires specialized training and certification not verifiable in the field

6. ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH HAZARDS

6.1 Cold Water Exposure
Extended exposure to cold water can induce hypothermia, causing progressive loss of motor function, impaired judgment, and increased drowning risk. SIT staff must:

Monitor water temperature prior to and during any water activity
Establish and enforce maximum exposure durations based on water temperature
Remove any participant from the water who displays signs of cold water stress, including shivering, confusion, or reduced coordination

6.2 Weather Conditions
Lightning Protocol:

All participants must exit the water and seek shelter when lightning is detected within 6 miles of the activity site (indicated by 30 seconds or fewer between lightning flash and thunder)
No one may re-enter the water until at least 30 minutes have elapsed following the last observed thunder

General Weather:

Water activities must be postponed or cancelled during inclement weather that reduces visibility, impairs communication, poses flash flood risk, or creates conditions beyond the assessed safety parameters of the site
Weather conditions must be monitored in real time throughout any water activity

6.3 Aquatic Wildlife and Environmental Hazards
Prior to any water activity in a natural body of water, the responsible staff member or participant must:

Research local aquatic species posing potential hazard (e.g., jellyfish, sea urchins, snakes, crocodilians, or venomous fish)
Identify potential exposure to waterborne illnesses, bacterial contamination, or parasitic infection
Consider seasonal factors that may affect wildlife presence or water safety
Consult local partners, guides, or public health resources for site-specific guidance

6.4 Recreational Water Safety and Waterborne Risk
Recreational water activities — including swimming, wading, and other direct water contact — carry a range of health risks that vary by environment, geography, and local conditions. These risks are not always visible or detectable by appearance or odor alone. Staff and participants must familiarize themselves with the following hazards before engaging in any water-based activity. Participants with open wounds, compromised immune systems, or relevant medical conditions should exercise additional caution and consult with SIT staff before engaging in marine water activities.

Freshwater Restrictions
Swimming and wading in freshwater is strictly prohibited in all countries identified as endemic for schistosomiasis by the World Health Organization. Schistosomiasis is a potentially serious parasitic infection contracted through skin contact with freshwater in affected tropical and subtropical regions. The current WHO list of affected countries is available at: https://apps.who.int/neglected_diseases/ntddata/sch/sch.html

Staff and participants must verify country status prior to any planned freshwater activity. This list is subject to change and must be reviewed at the time of the activity, not at the time of itinerary planning.

Beyond schistosomiasis, all freshwater environments — including rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams — may carry additional health risks regardless of endemic status. These include the following, but this is not meant to be an exhaustive list so please refer to all health warnings and materials:

Waterborne bacteria and pathogens — including but not limited to E. coli and Leptospira, which may be present in freshwater environments and can cause serious or life-threatening illness
Waterborne viruses — including hepatitis A, norovirus, and adenoviruses, which may survive in freshwater bodies and are not always detectable by appearance or odor
Parasitic organisms — including Naegleria fowleri, which is present in specific freshwater environments and can cause severe, irreversible harm
Harmful algal blooms — which may produce toxins dangerous to human health and are not always visually identifiable

Marine and Coastal Water Advisory
Marine and coastal water environments also carry health risks that participants should be aware of, though these do not carry the same blanket restrictions as freshwater in endemic regions. Risks include exposure to waterborne bacteria such as Vibrio and E. coli — particularly near shore, in warm water, or following heavy rainfall — as well as waterborne viruses and harmful algal blooms.

7. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 Center Directors

Ensure all staff under their supervision are familiar with and comply with this policy prior to any water activity
Conduct or delegate site evaluations as required by Section 4.2
Retain documentation of pre-activity safety briefings
Report all water-related incidents—including near-misses—to SHSW immediately
Exercise final authority to cancel or postpone any water activity on safety grounds

7.2 SIT Staff

Conduct safety briefings in accordance with Section 4.4 prior to all program-organized water activities
Maintain active supervision of all participants during water activities
Enforce all provisions of this policy, including the removal of participants from water activities for policy violations, and initiate conduct proceedings where appropriate, resulting sanctions up to and including dismissal from the program
Carry or have immediate access to emergency communication devices during all water activities

7.3 Program Participants

Accurately self-assess swimming ability and comply with the corresponding requirements in Section 4.1
Follow all instructions issued by SIT staff, guides, and local partners without delay
Exit the water immediately when directed to do so
Report observed unsafe conditions to SIT staff immediately
Refrain from all activities listed in Section 5 without exception
Understand that non-compliance with this policy may result in removal from the activity and program consequences consistent with the SIT Code of Conduct

8. INCIDENT REPORTING

Any water-related incident, including near-misses and situations in which emergency services were summoned, must be reported to the Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing office immediately. Reports should document:

The nature and location of the incident
Participants involved
Actions taken by staff and participants
Emergency services contacted or deployed
Any injuries sustained and medical treatment provided

Prompt and complete incident reporting is essential to institutional learning, duty of care, and continuous improvement of program safety protocols.

9. POLICY LIMITATIONS AND PARTICIPANT ASSUMPTION OF RISK

SIT endeavors to establish reasonable safety protocols to reduce the risk of harm during water activities. However, participants must understand that:

No policy or set of guidelines can eliminate the inherent risks associated with water environments
Conditions in international settings may differ substantially from participants’ prior experience
Compliance with this policy reduces—but does not eliminate—the possibility of injury or death
Participants who choose to engage in water activities during independent time do so with full awareness of these risks and assume personal responsibility for their safety

Policies

Water Activity Safety Policy