Staying safe in the water calls for more than just swimming lessons, says WaterSafe Auckland chief executive Jonathon Webber.
The statement was made in response to calls for greater access to swimming education for all Kiwi kids in an effort to curb New Zealand’s drowning toll.
"While we support efforts to improve water-safety skills, in our professional experience very few drownings involve non-swimmers," says Mr Webber.
“There are additional skills and knowledge required to keep people safe in the water. These include the decisions you make, knowing what to do in an emergency, how to react when another person gets into difficulty, and applying these in a variety of aquatic environments."
Understanding your own ability is essential
For males, who account for 85 per cent of all drownings, being able to correctly assess the risk and their own ability is an essential piece of the puzzle.
“Drowning is a significant and complex problem, to which there is no single solution,” says Mr Webber.
"An aquatic education programme that includes learn-to-swim classes and also develops water-safety skills and aquatic knowledge, skills and behaviours is needed to achieve the the long-term change we want to see in our drowning toll."
Learn to swim at Auckland Council pools
Auckland Council offers learn-to-swim and water skills programmes at many of its leisure centres throughout the city.
This approach equips Kiwi kids with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves and others safe in, on and around water.
