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Randwick City and Waverley councils launch Float to Survive initiative to reduce national drownings 

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

Sydney’s Randwick City and Waverley councils have joined forces to pilot Float to Survive, a new water safety campaign aimed at reducing the record number of drownings in Australia.

Promoting floating as offering the best chance of survival for swimmers who get into trouble in the water, Float to Survive launched yesterday to coincide with the start of summer.

Developed in partnership with the University of NSW (UNSW) Beach Safety Research Group and backed by the Australian Pool and Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA), the ‘Float to Survive’ message will be tested across the two local government areas which are home to some of Australia’s busiest and most dangerous beaches based on drowning risk.

This year Australia recorded its highest drowning rates in the last 10 years with 339 deaths and many of these drownings occurred at unpatrolled beaches, or out of hours, and in rivers and lakes.

Speaking at the launch, Randwick City Mayor, Dylan Parker commented “our Float to Survive message is that if you can master the skill of floating, even if you are not a good swimmer, you are more likely to survive and be rescued.”

Waverley Mayor, Paula Masselos added “the one key message of this pilot campaign is ‘Float to Survive’ and we want to test the memorability of this message in our research”.

The Float to Survive message will be promoted over the coming summer period up to April 2023 alongside and complementing Surf Life Saving NSW’s traditional beach safety message ‘always swim between the flags’ and the summer 2023 rock fishing safety campaign.

Five steps to float:

  • Keep calm and control your breathing
  • Lean back
  • Extend your arms and legs
  • Gently rotate your arms and legs in a circular motion
  • Signal for help with your hand if you can

Professor Rob Brander (aka ‘Dr Rip’), from UNSW’s Beach Safety Research Group will help evaluate the efficacy of the pilot campaign. In August this year, Randwick City and Waverley councils were approached by Surf Educators International seeking interest in a pilot study which has been adapted from the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Professor Brander noted “the Float to Survive message has the potential to help those who find themselves on trouble in the water at unpatrolled locations or outside of patrol hours and locations. We want to see what the public thinks about the message”.

Randwick Council Beach Lifeguard Supervisor Paul Moffat said sometimes people who get into trouble in the water can swim, but they panic and try to swim against the current which tires them out, noting “if you can relax and float, you’ll conserve energy and have a better chance of drifting out of a rip or being rescued.”

Bruce 'Hoppo' Hopkins, Waverley Council Lifeguard Service Coordinator,and APOLA President said learning how to float is easier than learning how to swim and “could be the difference between life and death”.

‘Float to Survive’ will be promoted in the media as well as in advertising and signage where people gather including beaches, bus stops, shopping centres and cinemas.

Yesterday also marked National Water Safety Day, an initiative encouraging Australians to make water safety awareness a priority.

Related Articles

30th November 2022 - Peak Water Safety authorities and political leaders urge people to stay safe this summer

25th November 2022 - Study recommends need to improve beach safety signage

9th November 2022 - More than 500 children lose their lives to drowning over past two decades

26th October 2022 - Randwick City Council hosts inaugural Coastal Safety Group Conference 2022

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

17th September 2022 - Rising drowning toll prompts AUSTSWIM to emphasise importance of educating new swimming teachers

16th September 2022 - 2021/22 drowning toll the highest in more than 25 years

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

5th August 2022 - Swim It Forward 2022 campaign launched by Swim Australia ahead of peak drowning season

22nd July 2022 - AUSTSWIM to mark World Drowning Prevention Day with discounted courses for new teachers

24th May 2022 - Conference sees APOLA ride a wave of change

27th January 2022 - UNSW research highlights risk factors behind South Asian migrant beach drownings

22nd January 2022 - Public reminded to observe water safety warnings following spike in NSW coastal drownings

8th January 2022 - Poor adult swimming skills contribute to summer drownings

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

1st December 2021 - First day of summer marks National Water Safety Day

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

17th December 2020 - Surf Life Saving Australia highlight the dangers of rip currents along Australia’s coast

22nd May 2019 - Federal Government won’t deliver on APOLA funding plea to reduce drownings

21st January 2010 - Professional Lifeguards reject ‘flawed’ SLSA Rip Campaign


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