Community Water Safety Education

Community Water Safety Education

Highlights from our April activity including Wai Wise, a global drowning prevention event at Vector Wero Whitewater Park and the new one-day SPLASH holiday programme.

Wai Wise Programme

One of DPA’s flagship programmes, Wai Wise, ran for the first time with Auckland’s Asian community last month.

The programme provides an insight of water safety learning through both theory sessions and a series of practical workshops to improve water competence, survival and safety skills. Over twenty participants from Chinese Dragon Boat Association (CDBA) nicknamed the Dragon Riders, took part. over several weekends. . Whilst participants joined with boating experience from paddling dragon boats, they lacked water safety knowledge and experience.

DPA partnered with Coastguard Boating Education (CBE) who supported the courses on Day Skipper and In-water Survival.

v
“I thought water safety was all about swimming techniques before joining Wai Wise, and now I realised there is way more knowledge and experience that we need to gain. I feel lucky to have been the Skipper of the boat in the drowning simulation and rescue scenario. I practiced using the communication device on Channel 16, then started to deliver Distress code on Mayday, and I wish to let other Asian communities know that participation in these programmes is important for all of us”
Shan Shan Xu

Global water safety and drowning prevention event – Vector Wero Whitewater Park

Last month, Vector Wero hosted a global water safety and drowning prevention event in collaboration with several key partners in the aquatics industry. The event provided members of the public with free in-water experiences, lessons and resources to keep themselves safer in on and around the water. The activities included white water rafting, stand up paddleboarding, canoe polo and kayaking.

It was fantastic to see such high levels of engagement with hundreds of people learning and having fun.

The DPA team provided guidance and information on Auckland’s navigational safety bylaws, lifejacket use, pool safety messaging and ran a real time demonstration of the 4R’s for bystander rescue. The demonstration teaches members of the public how to assist people in the water without putting themselves at risk. This is an important skill to learn as statistics show us that 3% of rescuers who enter the water to save somebody in distress end up drowning themselves.

What are the 4Rs of Bystander Rescue

  • Recognition This emphasises the importance of recognising when someone is at risk of drowning and taking action to prevent it. This includes being aware of the signs of distress, such as gasping for air or struggling to stay afloat and taking immediate action to assist them. It is also important to keep an eye on those who are swimming or playing in the water, particularly children or those who may not be strong swimmers.
  • Respond If someone is in danger of drowning, the next step is to respond quickly. This may involve alerting others in the area, such as lifeguards, other swimmers or calling 111 and asking for the police. It is important to remember that time is of the essence in a drowning situation, so any delay in responding could have serious consequences.
  • Rescue The next step is to rescue the person in danger. This may involve using tools around you including, flotation devices, water bottles, sticks, throwing a rope or other objects to the person which will assist in keeping them afloat until they are able to swim to shore or until help arrives.
  • Resuscitation Finally, once the person has been rescued, it is important to revive them if necessary. This may involve performing CPR at a rate of 30 compressions and two breaths or other lifesaving techniques like the recovery position until emergency responders arrive.

Complete the free Bystander Rescue lesson within the Water Safety for Youth and Young Adults eLearning module.

For more information about events, contact Harry Aonga – Team Leader Community Education & Events: [email protected] or on 0211118674.

April 2023 SPLASH Holiday Programme

SPLASH originally started as a weeklong holiday programme and has has now been re-designed to to run in one day – a day filled with new learnings and water safety experiences.

During the school holidays, SPLASH took place at Mount Albert Aquatic Centre, offering two daylong programmes for around 30 children aged 8-10 and11-13 year olds. The programme covers many aspects around the water, with some of these being, lifejacket safety, boating safety, recognising, and assisting a drowning person and beach safety.

The children thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities with the highlights being the snorkelling and safer boating. The safer boating activity not only taught them what to do and what to wear when on a boat, but it also developed their teamwork and leadership skills.

The children really enjoyed the programme and left with a whole new set of skills. Many were keen to return for the next holidays!

v
“I learnt to bring a first aid kit and communications on a boat and to always tell someone where you are going”
v
“I liked the snorkelling, I learnt about how to snorkel especially how to use the mask and snorkel and I liked picking up the paua shells”

Other news

He Taonga Te Wai – Dawn Event WDPD 2023

He Taonga Te Wai – Dawn Event WDPD 2023

Drowning Prevention Auckland are pleased to invite you to our World Drowning Prevention Day dawn service - He Taonga Te Wai on 25 July. Supported by Te Ahiwaru Trust, the event acknowledges our close connection with water as we come together to remember the tragic...

Community Water Safety Education

Community Water Safety Education

Highlights from our April activity including Wai Wise, a global drowning prevention event at Vector Wero Whitewater Park and the new one-day SPLASH holiday programme.Wai Wise ProgrammeOne of DPA’s flagship programmes, Wai Wise, ran for the first time with Auckland’s...

How’s Your Workplace Water Competency?

How’s Your Workplace Water Competency?

Drowning Prevention Auckland partners with workplaces around Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and further afield to offer their employees invaluable water safety training. Whether your organisation works directly or indirectly in a water-based environment, a Water Competency course will equip your people to be safer in, on and around the water.

Thirty-four percent of people drown when they have unintentionally entered in the water and 3% of bystander rescuers end up drowning. With the key learnings from the Developing Water Competency course, staff will be able to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to keep themselves safer around the water.

Josh Carmine, the DPA Educator running the workplace programmes, is a qualified paramedic, accomplished lifeguard and experienced instructor. He enjoys running fun and interactive sessions for organisations that wish to increase their people’s water competence.

“It is very rewarding to see groups thrive in controlled environments that challenge, encourage and enhance the skill levels of all who attend. It is always a real highlight to see those lightbulb moments as participants learn to understand hazards, recognise and assist people who are in difficulty in the water.” says Josh.

Covering a number of the 15 water competencies, including recognising and avoiding water hazards, floating, treading water, and bystander rescue techniques when in water or on land, the workplace water safety programmes are not only excellent for personal development but also an excellent team-building experience.

At the end of the one-day water competence programme, participants experience increased confidence in their own ability to respond to emergency situations in, on and around the water.

Benefits:
  • Fun and interactive learning tailored to the needs of your team
  • Fantastic team building experience
  • Learn more about the coastal environment
  • Learn how to keep yourself and others safer in and around the water
  • Learn essential skills for in water survival
  • Learn dry based rescue techniques
  • Improve general water competency and confidence
“I learnt an incredible amount of things from the knowledgeable instructor who even made a conscious and impressive effort to include te reo Māori into his presentations.”
“Fantastic instructor, he was able to cater for all skills and abilities and was able to relate the training to our workplace roles.”
“I really enjoyed the course, I took so much value from learning how to rescue someone from land as I am not the best swimmer myself.”

Would you like to find out more about our water competency courses for the workplace? Contact Josh Carmine ([email protected]) or explore options on our website.

Other news

He Taonga Te Wai – Dawn Event WDPD 2023

He Taonga Te Wai – Dawn Event WDPD 2023

Drowning Prevention Auckland are pleased to invite you to our World Drowning Prevention Day dawn service - He Taonga Te Wai on 25 July. Supported by Te Ahiwaru Trust, the event acknowledges our close connection with water as we come together to remember the tragic...

Community Water Safety Education

Community Water Safety Education

Highlights from our April activity including Wai Wise, a global drowning prevention event at Vector Wero Whitewater Park and the new one-day SPLASH holiday programme.Wai Wise ProgrammeOne of DPA’s flagship programmes, Wai Wise, ran for the first time with Auckland’s...

From Splash Participant to Water Safety Ambassador

From Splash Participant to Water Safety Ambassador

Kairo Jacobs came through the Splash Break-Away programme and is now a Water Safety Ambassador. Read his story about his initial reluctance and just how much he gets out of working within the community.
“I first started the Splash Programme when I was around 12 years old. I was reluctant to attend at first because not only was the programme unfamiliar to me but, no one I knew was going either. As daunting as it was, I can honestly say that I felt at home from the moment I arrived. Not only was the atmosphere warm and welcoming, but the instructors were fast to familiarise themselves with the kids and showed a genuine interest and love for what they were doing.

When the time came to search for casual employment in Year 12, I thought I would enquire about becoming a Water Safety Ambassador. Not only had I done the program a few times, but the Ambassadors seemed to really love what they do, and this is something that stuck with me. I have completed my first season as an Ambassador, and it has been an enjoyable experience being on the other side so far. Working in the community, teaching skills that will hopefully benefit the kids in the future or even help save a life is rewarding and not something you can find in any job. I never thought working with kids in the community was something I would be doing but now. I look forward to the next season”.

This is one of the ways we are committed to recognising “Water Safety Champions” within the areas of work we do. Kairo’s “why” emphasises the importance of recognising our “future water safety ambassadors” when delivering programmes such as Splash Break-Away.

Kairo is one of the few staff who have gained employment through doing Splash Break-Away. We are lucky to have him as part of our team, he brings his own knowledge around water safety, is passionate about teaching, and is relatable to the kids.

Thank you Kairo.

January Splash Break-Away registrations are open!

Click the button for more information and to register