Swim school open days

The recently released National Drowning Report found that 26 children under the age of 4 drowned in Australia during 2014/15, a 30% increase on the previous year. These figures highlight the importance of all children learning vital swimming skills from a young age.

In contrast, over the past 10 years children aged 5-14 were the least likely of any age group to drown in WA, with just one death last year and an average of 1.8 per year since 2003.

These positive statistics can be directly attributed to the work of swimming and water safety programs such as Royal Life Saving Society WA's Swim and Survive.

The Swim and Survive program, supported by principal community partner BHP Billiton and the Department of Sport & Recreation, aims to ensure that children are not only taught 'how' to swim but also 'when and where' to do so safely.

The program is delivered via a network of 120 Endorsed Swim Schools across WA, and over 190,000 children participated last year.

With summer fast approaching Royal Life Saving Society WA is conducting a Swim School Open Day at selected Endorsed Swim Schools. The aim of the day is to introduce families to the Swim and Survive or Infant Aquatics water familiarisation program, and encourage safe participation in water activities.

Trent Hotchkin, Senior Manager, Swimming & Water Safety Education at Royal Life Saving Society WA says "a key activity at each Swim School Open Day will be to provide a free swimming assessment to help parents determine what level their child is at, and the available options they can take to improve their child's swimming ability at their local Endorsed Swim School."

"Each pool will host a number of different attractions to get the whole family involved, which may include pool inflatable sessions, barbeques, aquatic games and activities, pool lifesaving demonstrations and giveaways."

The Swim School Open Day is being held at the following locations:

 - A + Swim School (Bibra Lake) - 0415 479289 Sunday 11th October 11am-1pm

- Bayswater Waves (Bayswater) - 9276 6538 Sunday 25th October 12pm-2pm

- Balga Leisureplex (Balga) - 9205 7343 Saturday 10th October 12pm-2pm

- Kwinana Recquatic (Kwinana) - 9236 4700 Saturday 7th November 12pm - 4pm

- Next Generation South (Bibra Lake) - 9412 0042 Sunday 11th October 11am - 1pm

- Mercy Baby Swim (Mt Lawley) - 9271 9422 Sunday 11th October 9:30am - 12:30pm

- Seadragonz Swim School (Forrestdale) - 9397 1100 Sunday 25th October 11am - 1pm

- The Swim Factory (O'Connor) - 1300 664 133 Sunday 11th October 11am - 1pm

- The Swim School (Merriwa) - 9305 2000 Sunday 11th October 1pm - 3pm

- The Swim School (Ocean Reef) - 9300 8202 Sunday 11th October 1pm - 3pm

You can find your local Endorsed Swim School in Royal Life Saving Society WA's directory of Endorsed Swim Schools.