Dippy a hit in the city for Royal Life Saving Day
Royal Life Saving WA staff and volunteers were busy in the city and at metro train stations this morning, during our annual fundraiser Royal Life Saving Day.
As a community based not for profit organisation we're focused on the prevention of drowning in our state. We’re determined to empower every member of our community to be safe when in, on or around water, through the provision of swimming and water safety education and drowning prevention programs, but we can only do this with the support of generous donors and program partners who ensure our message reaches the wider WA community. 
There were 42 drowning deaths recorded in WA during the 2016-17 financial year, with each of these representing a family and community deeply impacted both emotionally and physically in the most tragic way by the loss of a family member or friend.
As our signature fundraising event, Royal Life Saving Day happens on the first Friday of November each year. This morning our volunteers received a warm welcome, with community members particularly taken with our lovable mascot Dippy Duck! Dippy managed to visit people queuing to buy the new iPhone, had photos taken with many tourists and other members of the public, delighted babies and managed to even scare an assistance dog! We received fantastic donations and had a lot of people purchase our duck merchandise!
We'd like to thank all the staff and volunteers who gave their time to be involved today, and we'd especially like to thank all those who dug deep to support our cause. Royal Life Saving Society WA CEO Peter Leaversuch says, “Every drowning death is preventable, and with your support we can spread the message that ‘Everyone Can Be A Lifesaver!’, whether it be through learning first aid and CPR, learning to swim, or simply giving up some of your time to support our work to prevent drowning.”
Donations will also assist us in providing financial support to families affected by non-fatal drowning incidents, as they deal with the impact of a life forever changed due to injuries caused by their non-fatal drowning.
If you missed out on seeing our collectors out on the streets today you can still donate online at the link below, or by popping a donation in one of our Quackers collection ducks which can be found at over 3000 retailers across WA!
