HUNDREDS of school students from the Echuca-Moama district have learned vital water safety skills as part of Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV) Open Water Learning Experience program.
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The program saw students from Echuca-Moama, Girgarre, Leitchville, Gunbower, Tongala and Nanneella schools learn practical and engaging water safety, lifesaving, and emergency response skills including survival and rescue strategies from Tuesday to Thursday, February 18 to 20.
LSV community education projects co-ordinator Jodie Walker said the program, which was held at Maidens Inn Discovery Park in Moama, was a great opportunity for students to become familiar with their local open-water environment in a fun and interactive way.
Ms Walker said educating children on how to be safe around rivers and inland waterways was important.
“Students benefit from both dry land demonstrations and dry practice of the water safety skills before they apply these skills, supervised, in the water,” she said.
“The program educates participants on how to be safe when in and around water, and on practical skills like identifying dangers, when to wear a life jacket, recognising rip currents and understanding safety signs.”
Each year, Life Saving Victoria’s Open Water Learning Experience programs educate more than 18,000 students across the state during warmer months in terms one and four.
The local program was funded through the Victorian Government's Play It Safe by the Water campaign, Campaspe Shire Council and the Respect the River campaign.
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