From left, Joe Etpison, Tianna San Nicolas, Ryuto Yanai and Alisa Baquilles simulate a water safety course at the Aqua Resort Club on Wednesday. The simulated lesson was led by Yanai and was part of his effort to pass the American Red Cross water safety instructor certification course offered by Swim for Life CNMI.
Alisa Baquilles, left, jumps into the water as part of a simulated lesson led by Joe Etpison.
FOUR residents of Saipan and two of Tinian took part in an American Red Cross water safety instructor’s or WSI course hosted by Swim for Life CNMI on Wednesday.
Jeremiah Benavente, Swim for Life CNMI’s program coordinator, said after the course, participants will be ARC water safety instructor certified. This will allow them teach a variety of ARC courses including Parent and Child Aquatics, ARC Learn-to-Swim 1-6, and Adult Swim.
The participants in the course are Joe Etpison, Tianna San Nicolas, Roland San Nicolas, Kuen-Hee Han and Ryuto Yanai. Norman Deleon Guerrero is ARC WSI certified and was present at the lesson to audit the course. Roy Adsit, another ARC WSI certificate holder, was present as a lifeguard.
Benavente said these classes increase the number of community members able to help others stay safe around bodies of water.
During the course, participants practiced swimming strokes in the pool. They also rehearsed how they would conduct their water safety classes. The course included a classroom and online portion covering ARC water safety techniques.
One participant, Tianna San Nicolas, teaches 7th and 8th grade at Tinian Jr./Sr. High School. She said she came to the WSI training after being selected by her school’s principal. San Nicolas said she and her principal are going to set up a swimming program for students on Tinian.
“We’re going to try to have classes every Saturday at Tachogna, or wherever the water’s not rough,” San Nicolas said, adding that she and a Tinian Elementary School teacher will ensure that Tinian students from elementary school to high school are taught how to swim with proper form and technique.
Tianna San Nicolas will be assisted by Roland San Nicolas, a DPS Boating Safety police officer, who is also on Saipan for WSI training.
Roland San Nicolas said WSI training falls in line with his work at DPS Boating Safety.
He said it’s beneficial for island residents to know how to swim. “They can help in case of an emergency. They can assist others, and help out with what I do as a police officer,” he added.
Alisa Baquilles agrees. She’s a teacher at Hopwood Jr. High School taking the Swim for Life CNMI course so she can assist other WSI certified teachers at Hopwood.
“Everyone in Saipan should be educated [in swimming] because we never know what can happen at the beach,” Baquilles said. “We know there’s not always a lifeguard present.”
“Here in [this course] it’s not just about swimming, it’s also about learning to be safe in, on, and around the water,” Baquilles added.
Joe Etpison, who teaches at Koblerville Elementary School, said there’s “no excuse” to not know water safety on island.
“It’s a must that every child of all ages, and adults, too, learn to swim,” Etpison said. “We live on an island. We need this skill to save a life, save the community, and save the family.”
