Crash-course teaching kids to save themselves from drowning

A water-safety crash course is giving kids the skills they need to save themselves from drowning in just five lessons. The potentially lifesaving program comes after Victoria’s deadliest summer for drownings in 20 years.

Lisara, Jamie and Angelina take a dip at Noble Park Aquatic Centre. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Kids who can’t swim are being taught how to save themselves from drowning in just five lessons.

The quick-hit survival swimming program — piloted with pupils at two primary schools — has led to a dramatic turnaround in children’s water safety skills.

It follows Victoria’s deadliest summer for drownings in 20 years.

Life Saving Victoria general manager of education and sport Kate Simpson told the Sunday Herald Sun: “It’s providing kids with the knowledge and skills of what to do if they found themselves falling into deep open water.”

“We want them to be able to get themselves to a point of safety,’’ Ms Simpson said.

Year 5 and 6 pupils from Wooranna Park Primary School in Dandenong North and Silverton Primary School in Noble Park North — some whom lacked swim skills or had none at all — took part in 45-minute pool sessions at Dandenong Oasis over five days.

Students from Dandenong North and Noble Park North took part in the trial. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Eight out of 10 children on completion were able to get themselves out of trouble when put through a survival scenario.

There was a 65 per cent increase in the number of children who could float for a minute or more.

The number who could swim at least 50m increased threefold.

“It’s really important to provide kids the opportunity and access to water safety through schools,’’ Ms Simpson said.

“Our goal is that no child misses out.”

Greater Dandenong Council community services director Martin Fidler, whose municipality owns the YMCA-managed Dandenong Oasis, said such programs were of paramount importance in ensuring the safety of residents and promoting safe water practices.

MORE NEWS:

FURY OVER CHIN CHIN PAY SCANDAL

CARL’S REGRET IN UNSEEN JAILHOUSE LETTERS

“A large number of our residents were born overseas and are from countries where they have had limited exposure to water,’’ he said.

Education Minister James Merlino, whose government has given Life Saving Victoria $4 million for swim and water safety education, said: “We want Victorian children to have the skills and awareness to stay safe around water.”

“This pilot program is targeted at children who haven’t learnt to swim, and quickly gives them skills to be safer and more confident around water,’’ he said.

It’s hoped children who took part in the program will go on to further their swim skills.

Lesson plans will be available to teachers and swim instructors for free statewide.

Twenty-six people drowned in Victoria last summer.

[e-mail]