Children learn to swim

A group of 55 children aged between five and 14 spent their April school holidays learning to swim at the Peninsula Leisure Centre.

The children spent the school holidays undertaking Royal Life Saving NSW Swim and Survive Program.

"Swimming is a valuable life skill and every child in Australia deserves the right to be able to learn how to swim," according to Royal Life Saving regional manager Ms Tanya Brunckhorst.

"Royal Life Saving NSW believes that the rapid increase in drowning in young adults aged 15 to 24 years of age is undeniably linked to a fall in the swimming and water safety skills of children in the 5 to 14 years' age group.

"Research has shown that many children are leaving primary school without being able to swim 50m or float for two minutes.

"For many of these children, this has been their very first introduction to learn to swim classes.

"The children have come along each day of the holidays and have learnt swimming and survival skills in the water," Ms Brunckhorst said.

"Some of these skills include safe entry and exits from the water and what to do if you get yourself into trouble.

"Their improvement has been remarkable," she said.

The program was made possible by a grant from Central Coast Council

Mayor Cr Jane Smith said the council was pleased to be partnering with Royal Life Saving NSW.

"Nothing is more important than keeping our kids safe.

"The Central Coast is blessed with wonderful waterways, beaches and pools, but too many lives are lost because people don't have the right water skills."

SOURCE:

Media release, 7 May 2019

Tanya Brunckhorst, Royal Life Saving NSW