Each year as the weather begins to warm up, we see unnecessary drownings all around Australia.
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Now Moss Vale Aquatic have introduced revolutionary new swimming classes to help combat child drownings.
A report by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia found that a total of 27 people aged 14 and younger drowned in the past year.
Now one of Australia's leading aquatic centre management companies, Bluefit Group is attempting to prevent this by introducing Summer Starter and Carnival Clinics at local aquatic centres across the country and Moss Vale Aquatic has been included.
Moss Vale's Swim School manager Angela Earle said the earlier a child is in the water, the better.
"I say kids should be in the water at six weeks," Ms Earle said.
"The sooner they are in the water, the better. It's gets the child familiarised with the water, so we really encourage people to get their kids in the pool as soon as possible.
"We get babies used to being under water and laying on their back. We've had four year old kids come in and never had swimming lessons before, where there are two years old who can swim much better than them.
"Teaching kids about water safety is a sooner the better thing."
Bluefit CEO Todd McHardy echoes Earle's words and implores parents to keep their kids in the water regularly.
"The more practice these kids have, the better they become," Mr McHardy said.
"The idea of swimming every day for the week is equivalent to over a month of normal lessons which results in the children achieving fast-tracked improvements.
"The classes are designed to not only teach skills for life, but encourage and inspire parents and the community about water safety for children."
Teaching kids about water safety is a sooner the better thing.
- Angela Earle.
The classes teach kids several important skills, but most importantly, will keep them alive.
"We want to prevent children from drowning," Ms Earle said.
"These new classes are more focused on improving skills in endurance, water safety and strength along with confidence in the water.
"We want kids to be confident in their abilities when in the water.
"It's a life skill. You need these water skills. It's not optional. They will use these skills for the rest of their lives and it will keep them safe. It's all about safety."
There are different levels for contrasting skill sets. It's a great way for kids to learn an important skill and meet kids at the same level of skill.
"The Summer Starter classes are more focused on beginner to intermediate levels," Ms Earle said.
"Those are really focused on water safety and saving skills. The swimming carnivals are for the older kids and we focus more on strength, endurance and stroke correction.
"These classes are broken up and much more specialised then before."
Just like learning to walk or talk, a child's knowledge and ability to swim could be a life changing difference this summer and for the rest of the child's life.
Here are five safety tips when swimming with little ones this Summer:
- 1. Always actively supervise children in and around the water.
- 2. Be sure to stay within an arm's reach of children at all times.
- 3. Do not take risks around water, avoid dangerous behaviour, including jumping off bridges, cliffs and rope swings. Accidents can lead to permanent injury or death.
- 4. Swim between the flags and always check the water conditions if you are unsure of rips or currents do not swim.
- 5. Learn CPR and First Aid, having CPR knowledge and skills can be the difference between life and death.