What must instructors evaluate to ensure safety during practical sessions?

Instructors must evaluate participants' skills and comfort levels to ensure safety during practical sessions because these factors directly impact the participants' ability to perform tasks safely and effectively. Understanding each participant's proficiency allows the instructor to tailor the session's intensity and complexity, providing appropriate challenges while minimizing risks. When instructors are aware of a participant's comfort level in the water or with specific skills, they can offer additional support, implement necessary safety precautions, and calculate the right level of supervision needed, thus fostering a safe learning environment.

The completion of paperwork is important for administrative purposes but does not influence the immediacy of safety during practical sessions. Weather conditions can certainly affect safety, but they are external factors that do not relate directly to individual participant readiness. The facility's insurance might outline coverage for certain incidents, but it does not replace the importance of actively assessing the participants who are engaging in the session. Evaluating the participants ensures that instructors can respond proactively to any concerns and adjust the training accordingly.