Papatoetoe Pools Splash Out On Swim Lessons Drowning Is Dead Easy

Free swimming lessons are being offered to Papatoetoe residents by Manukau City Council's Swimsation swim school this Christmas.

With the summer weather soon to arrive children and families are heading to beaches and pools. Now is an important time to consider water safety and swimming skills.

Senior recreation programmer Kirsten Vaiaia says that too many children don’t know how to swim and as a result, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in young children.

"Astoundingly, many children cannot swim 200 metres which is the unofficial guideline to being strong enough to survive in aquatic situations. Swimming needs to be re-taught and re-enforced continually. The more concentrated the swimming at an early age, the stronger the swimmer will be in handling aquatic environments."

As part of their objective to provide swimming education to the entire community, the Swimsation swim school at Papatoetoe Centennial Pools is providing ten families of up to 4 children and 2 adults complimentary swimming lessons.

"These lessons will be held during the Christmas school break for those that have never been able to attend our swimming lessons in the past," Ms Vaiaia says.

Families wishing to apply for these lessons need to write a brief outline of why they feel their family would benefit from swimming lessons and send to Papatoetoe Centennial Pools, C/- Papatoetoe Swimsation, P O Box 79317, Manukau City. Entries close on 12 December 2003.

© Scoop Media