Beginner Swimmer

A red cross with a blue circle around it and blue text above and below it. Everything is set on a white background. 

The Beginner Swimmer button was awarded to participants who completed the same self-titled swim class offered by the American Red Cross throughout the U.S. During the mid to late 1900s, various swim clubs and public pools taught these water safety and skills classes by ARC certified instructors.  The primary goal of the Beginner Swimmer class was for participants to become comfortable in the water then gain fundamental skills such as floating, submerging and treading water.  General aquatic safety for the Beginner Swimmer included walking (not running) on wet surfaces, look-before-you-leap, and recognizing the lifeguard on duty.