'Float to Survive' message promoted across social media

With large numbers of people heading to water ways and surf beaches during the holiday period, Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, President of the Australian Professional and Ocean Lifeguards Association (APOLA), Waverley Council head lifeguard and Bondi Rescue identity, wants people to remember one simple message which will help save their life if they find themselves in difficulty in the water, ‘Float To Survive’. 

Hopkins shares “Going back to basics is the answer. Educating people to stop swimming and float when they get in trouble should be our national water safety  message. I’ve seen too many drownings where people struggle and use all their energy and drown because they can’t keep their head above the water.”

The initiative – being promoted across social media - raises awareness for floating as a safety action for those who find themselves in distress in any aquatic environment from beaches and swimming pools to lakes and creeks.

‘Float to survive’ commenced following a Multicultural Water Safety Forum held in 2019, where communities agreed that existing water safety messages were quite complex for culturally and linguistically diverse communities to comprehend and that messages were not relevant to all aquatic environments.

Float To Survive Tips

• Keep calm + control your breath

• Lay in the water + lean your head back

• Extend your arms + your legs

• Rotate both arms + legs in a circle motion

• Signal for help by raising a hand

For additional information visit floattosurvive.com.au  @bondipavilionofficial 

Image. Credit: @bondipavilionofficial