SGAC backs first National Kids First Aid Awareness Week

The Sydney Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre (SGAC) backed Australia's first National Kids First Aid Awareness Week, held from 14th to 20th October, helping Australians appreciate the importance of water safety for their children.

National Kids First Aid Awareness Week created to highlight the importance of educating the community as to how to respond to the common emergencies that Australian children face every day.

As part of this awareness, a Kids First Aid Australia spokesperson explains "with the weather heating up and summer creeping closer by the day, parents across Australia are thinking when is the right time to get their kids in the water and learning about water safety.

"Learning to swim is an essential part of growing up for any little one in Australia; and starting at a young age is even more beneficial."

Backing the intitiative, SGAC Aquatic Centre General Manager Lloyd Rothwell explains "kids can start learning as young as four months old with specialised classes dedicated to all age groups."

Seeing swimming as a non-negotiable life skill, Rothwell adds "childhood drowning is at epidemic levels in Australia, particularly in backyard pools (and) learning how to swim is the number one layer of protection in saving lives."

Featuring two 25 metre swimming pools, one dedicated to Learn to Swim programs and the other a lap pool for squads, casual swimmers and ONE55 members, the SGAC, which opened in August, is actively promoting that learning to swim from a young age as a life skill mindful that it provides increased awareness, safety and confidence around water; that it's a healthy activity and a lifelong skill for all ages; and that it improves physical, mental and language development.

At the the SGAC the ONE55 Swim School provides swimming lessons for all ages and abilities in a warm and friendly environment. All teachers are AUSTSWIM or Swim Australia qualified, and classes have been structured to maximise personal attention and learning outcomes for each child.

SGAC is highlighting research conducted by Griffith University in 2012, which shows that children who participate in early-years swimming achieve many milestones earlier than the normal population- across the areas of physical, cognitive and language development.

ONE55 Swim School offers a continuous development program for children aged four months and up. Through the two stage program, babies will learn motor skills, listening skills and to control their breathing with the reassurance of both the teacher and their parent. The aim of these classes is to develop water familiarisation and confidence through songs, games and activities. Classes for pre-school aged children offer an education in swimming skills and water safety. Children are introduced to floating, kicking, submerging, controlled breathing and basic swimming strokes as they progress through the three levels.

As the skill level of the child progresses, the focus is on further developing skills to ensure that children are competent in all strokes, water safety and survival. Successful completion of these programs will allow children to progress to the stroke development and junior squad levels.

Exclusive to ONE55 Swim School is the Accelerated Learn to Swim (ALTS) program, which seeks to enhance the skill development of younger swimmers in the four-eight year age bracket. Students participate in two classes per week; a specialised SGC Gym Sports program and ONE55 Swim School. The complementary SGC Gym Sports program assists in the rapid development of the strength, spatial awareness, balance and coordination needed to excel at swimming. Students of the ALTS program will see a progression to the junior squad level at a more rapid pace to those of their peers.

For those who prefer individual attention, private classes led by nationally accredited coaches are also available.

13th August 2013 - DOORS OPEN AT NEW SYDNEY GYMNASTIC AND AQUATIC CENTRE