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Sunday Mail (January 4th)
 Making kids water
safe
By MICHAEL OWEN
THE State's water safety programs have significantly cut the number of child drowning deaths, despite a national 7 per cent increase.
As an expected 28,000 school children across the State prepare for their first swimming lessons in the summer holidays, the Royal Life Saving Society is urging parents to keep making sure their children are "water safe".
The society's State deputy chairman, Mr Kevin Burrowes, said water safety programs were working to reduce the number of child drownings in SA.
During the past financial year, two children under 14 drowned in SA. Of the 16 drownings recorded in that period, 11 were aged from 26 to 54.
Nationally, 68 children under five died from drowning last year, with only one in SA.
"The State's water safety bodies have conducted programs over many years in conjunction with the government," Mr Burrowes said.
'The decline in the number of drowning deaths of young people is a direct result of those programs."
But he warned there was still a substantial number of high school students who did not know how to swim.
'We strongly believe if all children going through school are water safe, then the long-term safety of the general public is increased immensely," Mr Burrowes said.
The State's biggest learn-to-swim program, Vacswim, will this month involve about 28,000 children, 900 instructors and 178 swimming centres.
The State Government-funded program aims to develop skills in water safety, water confidence and competence, personal survival, emergency care procedures and basic swimming
strokes. The nine-day program starts tomorrow.
Vacswim '98 spokesman, Mr Chris Lemm, said during its long history the program had taught millions of South Australians how to swim.
"There's an emphasis these days not just on swimming, but on water safety and being sun smart," Mr Lemm said.
The program was extremely important to rural people, with about 70 per cent of participants from country areas.
"They don't have the opportunity like city people to go to heated indoor pools throughout the year," Mr Lemm said.
Meanwhile, the debate still rages over whether babies as young as six months should be taken into the pool.
Most private swimming centres run classes for babies and mums, teaching youngsters to be confident in the water.
"There was a report recently which said the aqua-baby classes are a waste of time because they can't learn to swim until they're four or older," Mr Lemm said.
"The Vacswim belief is we'll accept those who are of school
age!".
But the Royal Life Saving Society runs extensive 0-5 water safety programs and believes it is important for babies not to be scared of water.
"The 0-5 age group is in extreme danger," Mr Burrowes said.
Vacswim '98 enrolment forms from swim centres, or phone (08) 82716750.
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