Adult drowning rates in New Zealand are increasing.
Research has found that this is likely for a number of reasons:
- Lack of water safety practice
- Entrenched unsafe attitudes toward open water participation
- Underestimation of risks in aquatic activity
- Overly optimistic perception of capacity to cope with that risk
(Stanley & Moran, 2021)
The adult water competency pilot programme was completed in June 2022 which showed some interesting results:
- Adults overestimated their water competence in controlled pool environment
- Although not tested in open water during the pilot, adults perceived open water competency was likely to be overestimated
- All participants water competency improved after education at the conclusion of the programme
(Stanley & Carmine, 2022)
Here’s what participants had to say about the programme:
Want to improve your water competency?
Take this opportunity to test yourself in the safety of the pool with instructors on hand to guide you. Can you do everything you think you can? Could you be safer in the water?
To improve your water competency, join a free session at one of the four venues that Drowning Prevention Auckland are facilitating with the support of Auckland Council. The session is one hour long, free of charge and is designed to help you discover your current level of water competency and give you tips on how to improve it.
To join this free initiative, contact one of the four sites below.
Takapuna Pool and Leisure Centre
09 890 8465 | [email protected]- 11:30am – 12:30pm Tuesday 25 July
- 11:30am – 12:30pm Wednesday 26 July
- 11:30am – 12:30pm Thursday 27 July
- 11:30am – 12:30pm Friday 28 July
Tepid Baths
09 379 4745 | [email protected]- 12:30pm – 1:30pm Monday 24 July
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm Wednesday 26 July
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm Thursday 27 July
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm Friday 28 July
Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre
09 535 5502 | [email protected]- 10:15am – 11:15am Monday 14 August
- 10:15am – 11:15am Tuesday 15 August
- 10:15am – 11:15am Wednesday16 August
- 10:15am – 11:15am Thursday 17 August
Albany Stadium Pool
09 484 6205 | [email protected]- 10:15am – 11.15am Monday 7 August
- 10:15am – 11.15am Wednesday 9 August
- 10:15am – 11.15am Friday 11 August
Other news
Knowing how to Float first saved Joseph’s life
Joseph and Dad JonJoseph’s reply made Jon’s heart drop. "I'm trying Daddy, I can't. I can't." A rip lifted Joseph up and started quickly taking him away from the beach. “With little warning it goes from being…everything seems to be under control to everything's...
Activating water safety in the community
Over the past month, Drowning Prevention Auckland has actively promoted water safety education to people of all ages and experiences across a variety of settings. Highlights include the Wai Wise workshop for Asian and Pasifika communities, lifeguard training at Mt...
School adds water safety into outdoor education
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) provides the perfect opportunity for students to develop aquatic competencies. Bringing learning to life and finding out first-hand how to stay safer in, on and around the water. Drowning Prevention Auckland (DPA) works with...
Educating, Collaborating and Advocating
This blog explores some of the recent activity that our team has enjoyed delivering. Read the story of how Arohanui School has integrated water safety into their learning and the important water competencies that international university students enjoyed developing....
eLearning certificates now available
We’re excited to announce that certificates are now available for online water safety modules on the DPA eLearning platform! Since 2018 DPA has offered online modules to help people learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safer in and around water. Now you...
Talking drowning prevention with Radio Tarana
On World Drowning Prevention Day, 25 July 2024, DPA CE Nicola Keen-Biggelaar spoke with Radio Tarana about how drowning affects the Indian community. They discuss the reasons behind why people who are new to Aotearoa New Zealand are more at risk around our waterways...