19 October 2013

Rotorua kids learn lake water safety skills at aquatic centre for summer

With warmer weather on the horizon and Rotorua’s lakes becoming more enticing, Rotorua District Council’s aquatic centre has taken the opportunity to equip local children with vital lake safety skills.

Fifty-two children took part in the aquatic centre's award-winning Unison Lake Safety Programme in the recent school holidays.

The children participated in kayaking, deep water awareness, survival strokes, rope throws and retrieval activities, and learned the importance of wearing and correctly using life-jackets.

Aquatic centre programmes coordinator, Vernei Mullen, said the centre has delivered the lake safety programme for over 10 years teaching children, from as young as five years old, essential water safety and survival skills.

“Our Swimsation swim school team has equipped over 16,000 students to date with key water safety skills so they can enjoy and be safe in, on and around water. Our instructors continue to do a fantastic job and the children love the variety of activities we have on offer.

“With summer around the corner, it’s timely for our local kids to be better prepared for the risks and potential dangers around water. Parents feel much more confident knowing that their children have lake safety skills once they’ve completed our programme.”

Rotorua Aquatic Centre’s lake safety programme is sponsored by Unison Networks Ltd.

ENDS

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