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‘Float to Survive’ message promoted across social media

‘Float to Survive’ message promoted across social media
December 29, 2023

With large numbers of people heading to water ways and surf beaches during the holiday period, Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, President of the Australian Professional and Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA), Waverley Council head lifeguard and Bondi Rescue identity, wants people to remember one simple message which will help save their life if they find themselves in difficulty in the water, ‘Float To Survive’. 

Hopkins shares “Going back to basics is the answer. Educating people to stop swimming and float when they get in trouble should be our national water safety  message. I’ve seen too many drownings where people struggle and use all their energy and drown because they can’t keep their head above the water.”

The initiative – being promoted across social media - raises awareness for floating as a safety action for those who find themselves in distress in any aquatic environment from beaches and swimming pools to lakes and creeks.

‘Float to survive’ commenced following a Multicultural Water Safety Forum held in 2019, where communities agreed that existing water safety messages were quite complex for culturally and linguistically diverse communities to comprehend and that messages were not relevant to all aquatic environments.

Float To Survive Tips

  • Keep calm + control your breath
  • Lay in the water + lean your head back
  • Extend your arms + your legs
  • Rotate both arms + legs in a circle motion
  • Signal for help by raising a hand

For additional information visit floattosurvive.com.au  @bondipavilionofficial 

Image. Credit: @bondipavilionofficial

Related Articles

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18th December 2023 - Surf scientist warns of risks of swimming at unpatrolled beaches

12th December 2023 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins promotes ‘Float to Survive’ message with Blacktown City Council

8th December 2023 - Global drowning prevention initiatives showcased at Perth Conference

2nd December 2023 - Rip Current Survival documentary to get premiere at World Conference on Drowning Prevention

23rd January 2023 - Float to Survive message demonstrated in ocean rip at Sydney’s Manly Beach

2nd December 2022 - Randwick City and Waverley councils launch Float to Survive initiative to reduce national drownings 

23rd September 2022 - Float to Survive safety message to be trialled by Waverley and Randwick Councils

9th September 2022 - APOLA President Bruce Hopkins gains support for adoption of Float to Survive initiative as a national anti-drowning prevention message

2nd September 2022 - City of Canterbury Bankstown to host lessons on Float to Survive techniques

21st February 2022 - URBNSURF Melbourne to host APOLA’s 25th National Conference

7th May 2021 - Bruce Hopkins and Craig Riddington launch ‘Float to Survive’ water safety initiative

15th December 2017 - Leading professional lifeguard says swim between flags message is ‘desirable but unrealistic’

27th December 2015 - Professional Lifeguards highlight need for safety first at the beach

30th November 2014 - Professional Lifeguards advocate safety first at Australian beaches

3rd January 2014 - Professional Lifeguards say safety first at Australian beaches


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