Activity Safety Plan

Wind Surfing

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Description

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a thrilling water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. Riders stand on a board and use a sail attached to a mast and boom to harness the wind and glide across the water.

Overall Activity Risk Classification (High, Moderate, Low)

High

Follow all divisional protocols when planning high risk activities.

This activity is appropriate for students in Grades 9-12 Only.

Risk Management

  • Consult Risk Management for additional general safety requirements and outside provider guidelines.

Equipment

  • Determine that all equipment is safe for use (for example, no sharp corners, cracks, or splinters). Students must be encouraged to report equipment problems to the teacher.
  • A correctly fitting and Transport Canada approved Personal Floatation Device (P.F.D.) must be worn at all times on or near the water.
  • Each P.F.D. must have a whistle attached.
  • All boards and associated equipment must be in good condition and approved by the wind surfing instructor prior to use.
  • Refer to the First Aid section for first aid equipment requirements.

Clothing/Footwear/Jewellery

  • Activity appropriate swimwear and footwear must be worn. Wet suits as required.
  • When long hair poses a safety risk it must be secured. Devices (for example, hair pins, elastics and barrettes) used to tie back long hair must not present a safety concern.

Facilities

  • Teachers must determine that all facilities are safe for use. Students must be encouraged to report facility concerns to the teacher.
  • The water temperature must be above 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • The water area must be hazard/obstruction free.

Environmental Considerations

  • When environmental conditions (for example, humidex warnings, thunderstorms, or higher elevations of pollutants) may pose a risk to student safety, teachers must follow their school board/school protocols and procedures related to environmental conditions (consult Weather) and insects.
  • Students must receive instruction on safety procedures related to environmental conditions and be made aware of ways to protect themselves (for example, wearing a hat during hot sunny weather).
  • At all times the school board’s weather and insect procedures are the minimum standards. In situations where a higher standard of care is presented (for example, outside activity providers or facility/program coordinators), the higher standard of care must be followed.

Special Rules/Instructions

  • All students must successfully complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard swim test prior to being allowed to attend a wind surfing experience.  Consult Swim Test for additional information.
  • All instructors must be knowledgeable of the established emergency and safety procedures for their site. Instructors must outline emergency and safety procedures to all participants and other trip supervisors.
  • Students must be in buddy pairs during instruction.
  • Activities must be modified according to the students’ age, ability, language skills, previous experience, the number of participants, and the facility/space available.
  • When planning an activity, participant level of fitness, their previous training, and the intensity and length of time of the activity must all be taken into consideration.
  • Skills must be taught in proper progression and all activities must be based on the skills that are taught.
  • A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.
  • Be aware of students with a medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion) that may affect their participation. Consult Medical Conditions for additional information.
  • Students must not participate until they receive concussion information specific to school board procedures/policies, activity specific information on concussion prevention, the inherent risks of the activity, how to minimize the activity risks, and rules/procedures for safe play.
  • Students must be instructed on the importance of reporting suspected concussion symptoms.
  • For all off-site activities refer to the school board’s transportation procedures/policies related to appropriate methods of transportation, appropriate parent/guardian communication, and obtaining parent/guardian permission.
  • Parents/guardians must be informed that all students will wear a correctly fitting Transport Canada approved PFD/lifejacket, with whistle attached, when near, in or on the water.
  • If a student displays either verbal or non-verbal hesitation about performing a specific activity/skill then the teacher must determine the reason for hesitation.  If the teacher believes the hesitancy may put the student at risk during activity, then the student must be directed towards a more basic skill or be permitted to select a challenge that aligns with their comfort level (including choosing not to participate).
  • Students with Additional Needs: The teacher must make appropriate accommodations/modifications to provide a safe learning environment which addresses both activity and student specific safety concerns.  Consult OPHEA’s Disability-Centred Movement: Supporting Inclusive Physical Education for supportive resources.
  • To prevent dehydration, students must have access to water fountains or personal water bottles before, during, and after the activity.

Supervision

  • All activities must be supervised.
  • On-site supervision is required.
  • The level of supervision must commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk is related to the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, the type of equipment used, and environmental conditions.
  • One dedicated certified lifeguard is required for each group of 25 students in or near the water.
  • Additional adult supervisors are required when students are at or near the water, with the adult supervisors positioning themselves so the students are in clear sight and they can provide immediate assistance, if required..
    • Ratio 1 adult per 12 students.
  • If the accompanying teacher is a certified lifeguard they may act as one of the lifeguards towards the ratio.

Supervision Ratios for Instructional Time

  • 1 supervisor per 20 students.
  • Students must be partnered and a maximum of 10 students on the boards at one time.

Qualifications

Lifeguard Qualifications

  • A lifeguard must be 18 years of age or older and possess the minimum certifications:
    • National Lifeguard certification (appropriate to the venue being visited, e.g. pool, waterfront, waterpark)
    • Standard First Aid certification
    • CPR-C certification (may be included in the standard first aid training)
  • The lifeguard certificate must have been issued within the past two years.
  • A student may not act as a lifeguard if they are participating in the activity.

First Aid

  • A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. (Consult Sample First Aid Kit)
  • A working communication device (for example, cell phone) must be accessible.
  • At least one supervisor must have one of the following current first aid certifications:
    • National Lifeguard (N.L.) certificate
    • St. John Ambulance’s Emergency First Aid with CPR C + AED
    • St. John Ambulance Wilderness First Aid
    • Canadian Red Cross Emergency First Aid & CPR (Level C)
    • Canadian Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid
    • Canadian Ski Patrol First Aid Certificate
    • Equivalent to any of the above.
  • The school’s first aid plan/emergency response (consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response) and the school board’s concussion protocol (consult Concussions) must be followed.
  • The school evacuation and lock down plans must be communicated to students and followed in the case of an emergency.

Safety Craft

  • A safety boat that is rescue-capable (provides appropriate speed and stability) must be in the water and accessible while students are board sailing.
  • If the body of water being used for instruction does not allow the use of a safety boat (too shallow, pool, etc.) then the instructor(s) must be able to reach students as quickly as in the case of a safety boat being present. In the latter situation, the water must be wadable by the instructor.
  • If the safety boat is a motorized craft then the operator of the motorized safety boat must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
  • The operator of the safety boat, whether craft is motorized or not, must have experience in navigating the craft.
  • There must be at least one person in the safety boat who meets the first aid certification criteria.

Swim Test

Swim Test for Watercraft Activities

  • All students must successfully complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard swim test participate. The Swim to Survive Standard is expressed in a continuous skill sequence of:
    • Rolling entry (backwards or forward) into deep water
    • Tread water for 1 minute
    • Swim 50m (164’) continuously, any stroke
    • Demonstrate the ability to put on a personal flotation device (P.F.D.) while in the water.
  • Students who do not pass the Swing to Survive swim test are not allowed to participate in the watercraft activity.
  • The swim test must be administered by a certified lifeguard.
  • The swim test must be completed within the school year in which the activity is taking place.
  • In lieu of completing the swim test, students may provide proof of Bronze Star certification or higher.
  • Results of the swim test must be documented and communicated as per school board policy (for example, to the student, teacher, principal, parents/guardians, trip guide(s), lifeguards, aquatic instructor, or outside provider).

Information for Parents/Guardians

  • Parents/Guardians must be provided with a letter of informed consent which outlines the inherent risk of an aquatic activity.  Parents must acknowledge the risk and provide permission for their child/ward to attend.
  • The Manitoba School Boards Association Swim Safe Programs: A Reference Guide for Schools includes a sample parent/guardian letter.

Definitions

  • Personal Flotation Device (PFD):
    • According to the Canadian Red Cross, “A Canadian approved PFD is designed to keep you afloat in the water. PFDs were designed for use in recreational boating and are generally smaller, less bulky and more comfortable than lifejackets. They have less flotation than lifejackets, and have limited turning capacity, but are available in a variety of styles and colours.”
  • Instructional Time:
    • Instructional time is defined as time including organized activities and/or instruction. Examples of instructional time are lessons, events, practices, and games.
  • In-Charge Person:
    • Some activity safety pages refer to an “In-Charge” person. The teacher is always “In-Charge” and responsible for the overall safety and well-being of students under their care.  However, sometimes other personnel must be identified as “In-Charge” related to specific situations (for example, a pool lifeguard).  In these situations where another “In-Charge” person is designated, that person in consultation with the teacher are to make final decisions regarding student safety.
  • Supervision:
    • The vigilant overseeing of an activity or sport for regulation or direction.
    • All facilities, equipment, and sports have inherent risks, but the level of risk decreases significantly with effective supervision
    • Manitoba Physical Activity Safety in Schools designate three categories of supervision:  Constant Visual Supervision, On-Site Supervision, and In-The-Area Supervision. The categories take into consideration the activity specific level of risk, the participants’ skills, and the participant level of experience. The three levels of supervision are not hierarchical but represent the type of supervision that an activity requires and the type of supervision that is inherently possible.
  • Supervisor:
    • A supervisor is defined as a teacher, vice-principal or principal with current Manitoba Teachers’ Society certification and under contract by a school/school board. The supervisor is legally responsible for the students.
  • Types of Supervision:
    • Constant Visual Supervision:
      • The teacher is physically present, watching the activity in question. Only one activity requiring “Constant Visual Supervision” may take place while other activities are going on.
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. The teacher is at and is watching high jump.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. The intramural supervisor is at and is watching the parachute games.
    • In-the-area Supervision:
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” means that the teacher could be in the gymnasium while another activity is taking place in an area adjacent to the gymnasium.  “In-The-Area Supervision” requires the teacher to be readily accessible.
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” occurs during activities in which students may be out of sight for periods of time and the location of the teacher is not nearby (for example, alpine skiing, cross-country running) or during activities where single or multiple “In-the-Area” activities are happening at the same time (for example, a gym divided by a curtain or wall with badminton or table tennis on either side of the wall).
      • The following criteria must be in place:
        • The teacher is circulating and is readily accessible
        • The location of the teacher has been communicated to students and volunteers;
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. For distance running, the students are running around the school and at times may be out of sight.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For the scavenger hunt, the students are running around the school grounds and at times may be out of sight.
    • On-site Supervision:
      • The teacher is present but not necessarily constantly viewing one specific activity. Momentary presence in adjoining rooms (for example, equipment room) to the gym is considered part of “On-Site Supervision”.
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. Students participating on the track (relay) can be seen by the teacher who is physically with the students practicing high jump.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For relay games, the students are participating on the playground and can be seen by the intramural supervisor.
Origin Date
August 27, 2025
Last Reviewed
June 5, 2026
Next Review
TBD
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