Think about water safety now and be prepared

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It may be cold but now is the time to be thinking about getting the skills you and your kids are going to need this year. Drowning is far too common in New Zealand and simply hoping and praying its not you and yours is not really enough. In the video below I lay out few tips to help keep you safe on the water.

Below are some sound ideas from KidsHealth:
"Buddy up!"  Always swim with a partner.
"Get skilled" Know some life saving skills, they may just come in handy.
"Know your limits" If you're not a good swimmer or you're just learning to swim, don't go in water that's so deep you can't touch the bottom.
"Swim in safe areas only" It's a good idea to swim only in places that are supervised by a lifeguard.
"Be careful about diving" Only diving in areas that are known to be safe, such as the deep end of a supervised pool.
 Read more...

Sealord Water Safety New Zealand Education Award

I recall last year’s summer blog was peppered with posts about swimming and waterways death toll. Such depressing figures last year but maybe this year will be different.

Children from Central Southland cool off at a pool party in Winton as they celebrated after success at Swim Safe Southland's learn-to-swim programme, that targets rural children. They won the Sealord Water Safety New Zealand Education Award last month.

A real positive start to the summer. Here’s hoping we all take a little more care around water this year.

Further information:

Swim for Life website

Articles:

Kiwi kids struggle to swim
‘Once in a lifetime’ learn-to-swim project approved
Swim group floats bold plans
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Water Safety: The answer?

If every policy holder took a leaf out ofLen’s book then the ‘Learn to Swim’ issue would be solved. 

 

The issue of teaching our children to swim is a national problem and measures should be taken on every level to address it.

To ensure all kids are confident and COMPETENT in the water by the age of eight several policies need to be enacted to encourage and support access to PROPER swimming lessons.

• All Mayors of all cities should ensure that access to pools and swimming facilities are free for all, encouraging parents to take their children.
• Funding should to be found to encourage schools to hire pool facilities or formal swimming instructors.
• Learn to Swim classes should be funded, or in the least subsidised for all 5-7 year olds.  Whether this directed through schools or available for parents to access extra-curricularly.
• Grassroots funding for swimming clubs to heighten awareness and encourage youth participation.
• Compulsory ‘Surf Life-saving ’ for Year 7 and 8 students. Directed as part of the ‘technology’ options at Intermediate.

It is essential that parents are given options rather than mandates. Parents need to know it their responsibility in the education of their children, especially in the are of ‘life-skills’.

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