Bryan Ward - Water Safety for Spring!

In the five years between 2009-2013, an average of 108 people have died from drowning in New Zealand waters each year.

A few basic common sense rules could prevent a lot of these deaths:

• Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags when swimming at the beach, as they identify the safest area to swim when an active lifesaving patrol is on the beach.
• If you’re boating then don’t be a clown wear you and everybody else should wear a life jacket regardless of age, swimming or boating ability.
• If you plan to take children boating, make sure that they have the survival skills should something happen. Educate so that they know how to swim and teach them boating skills and survival techniques in the water.
• Always pay close attention to children if you are supervising them when in or near water.
• Swim with others if you can!
• Learn how to identify a rip and how to escape from one.
• Learn safe ways of rescuing others without putting yourself in danger.

For more information go to www.watersafety.org.nz