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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.

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