Image: AdobeStock by k8most
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">Each year, New Zealand experiences </span><a href="https://www.watersafetynz.org/drowning-insights#:~:text=90,Cyclone%20Gabrielle%20in%20February%202023." target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">preventable drowning fatalities</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> at a rate that is one of the highest in the OECD. This year alone, we’ve had ten drowning fatalities. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Education around water safety, notably the 15 water competencies, is an essential means of lowering drowning rates – and they can be taught from anywhere, not just at the pool, beach, lake or river. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read the Term 4 edition of <em>School News</em> HERE</strong></a> </p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Preventable tragedies</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Currently, drowning fatalities are trending upward. In 2021, preventable drowning fatalities increased by 7 percent from 2020, and 13 percent on the five-year average, reaching the highest number of preventable drowning deaths since 2011. Older males are more likely to drown. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Youth are at highest risk in rivers: 25 percent believe that rivers are “not very hazardous” or “not at all hazardous”. River fatalities are typically at 15 – 34 years of age, but serious incidents typically involve 9 – 14-year-olds. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The </span><a href="https://www.dpanz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/slsnz-beach-coastal-safety-report-2020_single-pages-for-digital-use_low-res-1.pdf" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">National Beach and Coastal Safety Report</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, which provides a ten-year overview of our drowning rates (2010-20), found our fatal drownings were 48 percent higher than Australia, and fatal drownings have increased. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_29482" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29482" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-29482" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AdobeStock_316823709-300x200.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29482" class="wp-caption-text">Rivers are especially dangerous for young people. Image: Sebastian on AdobeStock</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Non-fatal drowning statistics are also grim. There is about a 1:1.8 ratio of fatal to non-fatal drowning incidents. This data only encompasses instances where a non-fatal drowning resulted in a hospitalisation of 24 hours or more, meaning this data only scratches the surface of drowning or near-miss incidents in New Zealand. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In the past, messaging has been focused on swimming to prevent drowning. But in 2007 the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF) made a statement on “Swimming and Water Safety Education” highlighting the importance of more general water-safety education. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Water safety: not just about swimming </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In 2017, </span><a href="https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ijare/vol10/iss2/3/" target="_blank"><span data-contrast="none">a research paper titled</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> ‘From swimming skill to water competence: towards a more inclusive drowning prevention future” collated available international research and proposed fifteen water competencies. The paper was an international effort, with one of the authors being Dr Kevin Moran from the University of Auckland. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Many national drowning prevention agencies now adopt the 15 water competencies as best practice. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Safer entry </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Breath control</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Stationary surface </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Water orientation</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Propulsion (swimming) </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Underwater</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Safe exit </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Personal flotation device (use of PFDs/lifejackets)</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Clothed water (wearing clothes in the water)</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Open water</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Knowledge of local hazards competence </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Coping with risk: awareness, assessment, avoidance </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Assessing personal competency</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Recognising and assisting a drowning person </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
<li data-leveltext="ï·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{";335552541";:1,";335559684";:-2,";335559685";:720,";335559991";:360,";469769226";:";Symbol";,";469769242";:[8226],";469777803";:";left";,";469777804";:";ï·";,";469777815";:";hybridMultilevel";}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Water safety (attitudes and values)</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p> ;</p>
<figure id="attachment_29481" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29481" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-29481 size-medium" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/water-competencies-diagram--300x263.png" alt="" width="300" height="263" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29481" class="wp-caption-text">Water competencies diagram. Image: Drowning Prevention Auckland 2019</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Importantly, not all water safety competencies require practical sessions, meaning water safety can be effectively taught in classrooms. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Ako wai</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Drowning prevention organisations, both local and national, have been working to improve water safety education in schools. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Drowning Prevention Auckland is one such organisation. </span><span data-contrast="auto">They offer </span><span data-contrast="auto">professional learning and development (PLD)</span><span data-contrast="auto"> for teachers</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span> <span data-contrast="auto">including</span><span data-contrast="auto"> support during practical and theoretical sessions.</span><span data-contrast="auto"> Their website also has free resources that teachers can use to teach water safety anywhere, anytime. Lessons include modules around the 15 water competencies, and some learning is targeted toward higher risk groups. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_29483" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29483" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-29483" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/colwill3-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29483" class="wp-caption-text">Helen Meyrick, educator with Drowning Prevention Auckland, takes a class learning water competencies. Image: Supplied by DPA.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Drowning Prevention Auckland’s Education Team leader Lynley Stewart says it’s important that teachers and schools get behind teaching water competence, and says support is available for teachers who may not know where to start. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“It’s important because we’re surrounded by water. Everyone has a desire to be near water – all our new migrant people coming in are inundated with our amazing waterways and some of them come from landlocked countries. But there are risks associated with water. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“We try to get schools to think holistically about aquatic education. The learning happens in the classroom and the pool. One day students might take up sailing, or boating or fishing, and those are positive recreational outcomes. But they have to be accompanied by knowledge and understanding.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Helen Meyrick, another member of the education team for Drowning Prevention Auckland, says a good place for educators to start is to simply have a conversation with students about how they are using water. She notes that each school has a unique geography and a regional culture, meaning students are doing diverse activities on and around diverse waterways. This means each school and each group of students has specific needs with water safety education. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-29484" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_4427-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“What are the local areas your kids visit and how are they using that water? That’s what we need to be focusing on, and then you can look at the big picture.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Meyrick and Stewart also emphasise that water safety learning can and should be taught around existing programmes like swimming lessons. And given the theoretical aspects of learning water competence, these skills can be taught and refreshed anytime during the school year, not just Terms One and Four. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Ideally, to ensure students make connections between theoretical water safety and practical uses, some learning should occur in open water environments like local beaches, or rivers and lakes. However, given health and safety concerns and limited resources, practical sessions on open waterways are not feasible for many schools. But Stewart says that valuable learning can happen at these sites without even going into the water. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“It’s about making a link between the skills taught in swimming pools and classrooms, and real-world environments. If you took your class to a local waterway for a day, and just focused on getting the kids to identify the risks and what they could do to help themselves stay safer, that’s still valuable learning.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<figure id="attachment_29485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29485" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-29485" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Colwill-6-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29485" class="wp-caption-text">Image: Supplied by DPA</figcaption></figure>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Although organisations like Drowning Prevention Auckland have dedicated educators like Meyrick and Stewart who can teach specialised water-safety sessions at schools, Stewart emphasises the importance of the teacher-led model.</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“If we want sustainable change over time, it’s the teacher who’s the best person to lead.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">That’s why professional development and upskilling is such a big focus for the organisation. Teachers looking to upskill and improve their students and their own water-safety skills can contact their local organisations for support. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In the meantime, Meyrick offers some essential water-safety tips for parents and educators alike. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“When it comes to children, active supervision is key. For the younger ones, you need to see them, hear them and be able to reach them. For older children, not so much reaching but you need to be watching: not on your phone, not reading a book. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“As for hazards, people need to think before they get into the water. If in doubt, stay out. If you get to the beach and you’re excited and you’ve been looking forward to it all week, but the conditions don’t look safe – maybe bigger waves, a rip or no lifeguards – stay out. </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“It’s not worth it. You want to get home to your family – you can always go again next week.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{";201341983";:0,";335559739";:160,";335559740";:259}"> </span></p>
</blockquote>

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