30 September 2008
Media Release
For immediate release
Whanau Nui – Free Family Swim Lessons
Learning to swim is far more than swimming strokes; being comfortable and confident in the water is an essential life
skill.
Swimming is the most popular leisure activity for boys and girls in New Zealand (SPARC), yet in a country where drowning
is the third highest cause of accidental death there are still too many children who have not had the opportunity to
learn swimming and survival skills.
The free Whanau Nui Family Swim Lessons starting October 6 at the YMCA Lagoon Leisure & Fitness seeks to address that gap, with five lessons over five days, in a simple, positive and fun approach to teaching
swimming and water safety skills.
On average 15 children (0-14yrs) drown in New Zealand and many more are hospitalised with water-related injuries and
while the lessons are targeting children, they must be accompanied in the water by a parent/caregiver, reinforcing the
importance of close and active supervision of children in, on and around water.
Families are urged to take advantage of these free lessons, running over the second week of the school holidays from
6-10 October at the YMCA Lagoon, Leisure & Fitness, Panmure, Auckland.
Numbers are limited and bookings essential so families are urged get in early to take advantage of this great
opportunity.
The Whanau Nui lessons are part of an ongoing water safety project, a collaborative initiative between the East Health
Trust [Primary Health Organisation], WaterSafe Auckland and Injury Free Counties Manukau.
ENDS