Guildford Grammar students learn to Swim and Survive

During the last school term of 2017 students from Guildford Grammar School had an opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills in an inland waterway environment.

Royal Life Saving WA staff took 145 students from Years 5 and 6 through a special program across two days, teaching them skills in river rescues, risk awareness, first aid specific to inland waterways and survival swimming. Each student also took home a set of resources to ensure they can safely enjoy inland waterways.

The program was run at Stronghills Dam, which is owned by Guildford Grammar School in the Avon Valley National Park. Royal Life Saving’s tailored inland waterway program enables schools to provide their students with swimming and survival skills focused on river, lake or dam environments.

These skills are essential to the Australian lifestyle, with Australian rivers claiming more than 1000 lives due to drowning in the past 15 years. Here in WA 89 people have drowned in rivers, creeks and streams over the same period.

Peter Ashby, Director of Education at Guildford Grammar, was very happy with the program. “The kids all had a fun day out on the dam and we’re pleased they were able to learn these important skills ahead of the summer holidays.”

Almost half of all drowning deaths last year happened over the summer months so Royal Life Saving encourages all West Australians to keep safety in focus around water during the holidays period. We’re running a number of programs in January aimed at teaching children swimming skills for inland waterway environments. You can find out more about these programs, and enrol to take part at the link below.