Life Saving Victoria launches online safety and first aid education

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) has launched Water Safety @ Home, making lifesaving, swimming, first aid and CPR education for children accessible for all.

This series of practical and interactive online sessions includes CPR and first aid for children, Nippers (a popular beach lifesaving program run by lifesaving clubs) and swimming lessons, as well as educational Watch & Learn videos about lake, home and beach water safety – all available from the comfort of participants’ living rooms or backyards.

LSV General Manager Education and Sport, Kate Simpson advises “even though students will be transitioning back to learning at school, we know many after-school activities, like swimming lessons, are still unable to run.

“We will continue to deliver Water Safety @ Home throughout Term 2 and will also be providing recordings and support material for all sessions to enable schools to schedule them into their lessons during the school day.”

The weekly schedule includes family-friendly and all-ability CPR sessions on Mondays via Microsoft Teams, Nippers @ Home on Tuesdays via Facebook Premier, Watch & Learn water safety videos on Wednesdays and Swimming @ Home on Thursdays via Facebook Premier.

The practical and engaging sessions include elements of staying active and educational key safety messages. Examples of activities include practising CPR on teddies or pillows, searching for potential hazards, wading through ‘waves’ created by pillows and practicing swimming arm and kicking movements.

Simpson adds “everyone’s still mostly at home, but water safety skills are still hugely important to maintain and learn – especially for kids missing the routine, exercise and social aspects of Nippers and swimming lessons.

“First Aid and CPR are also essential skills and we know children do sometimes have to step up to be everyday lifesavers, too.”

There are also interactive and easy-to-follow activities to support remote learning, and to complete between sessions, on the Swimming and Water Safety Toolkit found at www.lsv.com.au/toolkit.

For more information, including weekly schedules and instructions to access sessions, please visit www.lsv.com.au/watersafetyathome.

Image: Elle, Nash and Sonny Gleeson practise CPR on dad Aaron courtesy of LSV