Effects of "langoy sa kaluwasan-learn to swim" extension project to the swimming competency of barangay emergency response personnel

Abstract

Swimming is an essential skill, especially to the barangay emergency response teams near lakes, rivers, and beaches. It is a skill intended not only for recreation and livelihood but as preparation for unforeseen water emergencies. Acquiring this skill may help prevent drowning incidents that can lead to death. This research aims to determine whether the "Langoy sa Kaluwasan-Learn to Swim" extension project improved and developed the swimming skills of thirteen (13) barangay emergency response personnel in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. It utilized an experimental research design, specifically a one-group Pretest-posttest Research Design. The experiment took five weeks duration conducted at the Visayas State University (VSU) beach resort. Results showed that the participants' swimming competency is Satisfactory before the project and enhanced to Outstanding after the project. Results further affirmed the significant increase of the participants swimming competency with the help of the extension project. The results implied that although the participants are the barangay emergency response personnel of their barangays, they still had a lot to improve, especially in the different swimming skills, namely, bubbling, floating, gliding, direction change, water-treading, underwater swim, and freestyle. With these enhanced skills, they will also be expected to teach children and the youth of their respective barangays the skills they have learned. Thus, the national government may structure similar training capacitating and improving the barangay emergency response teams' skills to respond appropriately in calamities and unforeseen water emergencies.