AusLeisure

National swim teaching and water safety body AUSTSWIM has launched the 'Take the Water Watcher' Pledge, encouraging the aquatic community to do their part to ensure the safety of swimmers in and around the water this summer.

Resonding to the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia’s 2016/17 national drowning report, AUSTSWIM is mindful that raising awareness of the importance of adult supervision around water is one of the key objectives of the Australian Water Safety strategy - which aims to help reduce the incidence of drowning by 50% by 2020.

AUSTSWIM sees that everyone can play a vital role in helping to ensure children are safer in and around water, so, with summer just around the corner, AUSTSWIM is asking the wider community to join in the Water Watcher campaign.

The Water Watcher campaign encourages people to ‘take the pledge’ to guarantee adequate supervision of children in and around water at all times.

The Pledge is:

• I am a water watcher.
• I will be there, be aware and avoid distractions.
• I will appoint a replacement watcher to ensure constant supervision.

AUSTSWIM Chief Executive Jennifer Schembri-Portelli explains that the Water Watcher campaign has the capacity to make a huge difference in preventing potential drowning incidents in Australia, particularly among children, in the coming summer months.

She advises “this is a simple initiative that any adult can commit to when they are near water, and it will save lives.

"The self-appointed Water Watcher's only job is to keep watch on what's happening in and around the water. They need to let other people answer the doorbell or phone, cook the barbecue or get the drinks.

"Our kids are not waterproof, but if an adult is keeping watch their safety is greatly improved."

Although the primary role of AUSTSWIM is facilitating the training of professionals in the aquatics industry, the organisation believes the Water Watchers campaign is a great way for its 33,500 licensed and accredited teachers to ‘pay it forward’ to the wider community.

AUSTSWIM is a member of the Australian Water Safety Council that produced the strategy.

For more information on the Water Watcher Pledge contact AUSTSWIM on 1300 885 529 or go to www.austswim.com.au

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