Water Safety PD

On Tuesday 12th of September, we were run through a water safety lesson. Basically, the theory will be taught throughout term 4 and then in the last two weeks of the term it will be practical so putting all the knowledge they have learnt to action. Water safety is relevant to Tamaki College because most of our kids are not confident swimmers so building their confidence in the water is important and key to developing basic life skills such as learning how to be safe in the water. Maori and PI's have the highest rate of drowning and more specifically men because they lack basic water safety skills and have that "she'll be right attitude". In order, to change those statistics and attitudes of our youth it needs to start in school because where else will our students get this opportunity to learn it.

Key points:

• Life Jacket-Size and Fastening Buckles (Fingers should not be able to fit in)/Collar should not pass the ear.
• Proper Side Entry into pool
• Get out of pool (Without ladder)
• Breast stroke to the middle of the pool (Get out of pool)
• Stride Entry (one leg front/one leg at the back bent/ both arms out to the side)
• Take life jacket off & re-enter pool (stride entry)
• Swim on your side to the other end of pool, keeping shoulders hands & feet under water to keep your body warm
• Swim on your backs (breast stroke style) back to the middle.
• HELP Position-Staying warm & conserving energy in a survival situation, legs bent at knee/crossed at ankles, hips bent at 45 degree angle & arms crossed with hands under armpits.
• Huddle-Staying together is important in keeping each other alive, for warmth and survival. Huddling close together, heating the water up in the middle, challenge is to swap who is injured into the middle to keep them warm without letting any heat out. Consequence for one trying to leave on their own-die from Hypothermia.
• Identifying RIP, stay calm and allow it to take you out and swim diagonally back to shore.
• Create a current in water, ask students to try swim away from it. Question: Happened when you tried to swim against the current? (Tired/Too strong/Gave up) What could you do next time?
• See if you can float in water? T position or STAR position if you are sinker you may need to use your arm a little to scull to keep you afloat. Treading can used if arms get tired but your more likely to get exhausted from treading rather than floating and sculling.
• If your boat capsizes or you have been drawn out to sea, what could you do?
• Why is floating an important skill?

Overall, I think water safety skills are taken for granted and are essential for our younger people to learn especially if we want to reduce the number of our Maori and Pacific Islander people drowning. It starts at school, Tamaki College! Thanks D & Niki for an eye-opening experience, something the school will surely benefit from.