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ASSA launches Countdown to Summer Series swim safety campaign

ASSA launches Countdown to Summer Series swim safety campaign
November 1, 2021

The Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) has today launched its Countdown to Summer Series campaign - aiming to help swim schools educate parents in preventing drownings and non-fatal drownings at home.

Offering a series of helpful tips, it also shares the vital water safety messaging year-round and incorporates ASSA’s friendly mascots, the SAFERwater Warriors.

Advising that drowning is silent and seconds save lives - its key message in the Countdown to Summer campaign - ASSA General Manager, Emily McNeill explains “summer is only one month away and now more than ever, swim safety is a hot topic across Australia following the pandemic pause on swimming lessons that has resulted in a national skills regression.”

Launched in 2020, the Countdown to Summer Series is a water safety campaign that helps swim schools educate parents by offering tips to prevent drownings and non-fatal drownings at home. It also shares the vital water safety messaging year-round and incorporates ASSA’s friendly mascots, the SAFERwater Warriors.

Each SAFERwater Warrior has a vital message attached to them and is designed as a fun approach to spreading vital water safety messages:

  • Swimming Skills = GLIDE
  • Adult Supervision = SKYE
  • Fences & Gates = FORCE
  • Emergency Action Plan = DASH

As part of the campaign, ASSA is reminding families that seconds count when it comes to child drownings and it’s not only the pool that offers risk - bathtubs, kiddie pools and ponds are also hazardous.

Here, McNeill added “you cannot always hear when a child is in danger and that is why prevention is crucial - as is having an emergency action plan - should the other layers of protection be broken.

"If you haven't thought about what you would do if there was an emergency in or around water, here are our top tips shared throughout the campaign:

  1. If a child is missing, check any water areas FIRST - seconds count
  2. Ensure everyone who cares for your child, including you, knows CPR
  3. Have an Emergency Action Plan in place, especially if you have a home pool or live close to a waterway
  4. Ensure all the other layers of protection are around your child - supervision, barriers and swimming and water safety skills - dealing with an emergency is the second line of defence.

"We strongly encourage all households with young children to have discussions around what to do if a family member finds themselves in danger and to have an emergency plan to refer to.

Founded in 2016, ASSA is the national peak industry body for swim schools and learn to swim businesses, teaching swimming and water safety.

Click here for more information.

Image: ASSA's SAFERwater Warriors.

Related Articles

25th October 2021 - National Aquatic Industry Committee releases updated guidelines for managing the risk of COVID-19 in aquatic facilities

22nd September 2021 - Royal Life Saving announces new partnership program for swim schools

8th September 2021 - Lockdowns contribute to rise in Australian drowning deaths during past year

6th September 2021 - 90% of aquatic facility owners, operators and staff heading towards becoming fully vaccinated

3rd September 2021 - 400 delegates from 20 countries dial in to Australian Swim Schools Association’s 2021 Conference

1st September 2021 - Australian Swim Schools Association presents 2021 Hall of Fame and National Excellence Awards

24th July 2021 - Life Saving bodies urge Australians to take action to end drowning on World Drowning Prevention Day

7th July 2021 - With swim schools facing permanent closure industry leader calls for learn-to-swim services to be classed as an essential service

13th September 2020 - Royal Life Saving survey suggests that swim school enrolments fell by 30% in August

10th August 2020 - Australian Swim Schools’ virtual conference a huge success

23rd July 2020 - World Wide Swim School partners with Child Safeguard

8th July 2020 - ASSA to stage virtual conference for swim schools

30th April 2020 - ASSA raises concerns over future of swim schools

3rd April 2020 - Royal Life Saving welcomes JobKeeper payments as a ‘$700 million lifeline’ for aquatic facilities and swim schools

7th February 2020 - ASSA reports highly successful Singapore International Swim School Spectacular

5th February 2020 - Swim Schools Association invites AIS Water’s Elena Gosse to address Walking on Water seminar

29th January 2020 - Swim schools concerned about Coronavirus

19th September 2019 - Australian Swim Schools Association looks to evolve with management changes

3rd September 2019 - World Wide Swim School makes new team appointments to drive growth

6th August 2019 - ASSA announces latest inductees to Australian Swim Schools Hall of Fame

12th March 2019 - Second International Swim Schools Spectacular to be staged in Singapore


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