Help support The Warehouse support Water Skills for Life
Water Safety New Zealand, Swimming New Zealand and The Warehouse are working to address a lag in vital water safety skills as national records show water skills are falling among many primary-school aged children.
In 2017, The Warehouse became the naming partner of Water Skills for Life to help lift the levels of aquatic education in New Zealand’s schools and turn around our high drowning toll. The Warehouse is supporting the initiative with in-store fundraising so more children have access to crucial water safety skills.
Customers can support the campaign with a $2 donation at the checkout or self-service counter.
Water Skills for Life is all about kids having fun while they learn water safety. It is made up of 27 core water safety skills and establishes broad fundamental competencies for life-long water safety, and over a quarter of all primary schools across the country are now incorporating Water Skills for Life into their health and recreation programmes.
Last year, accidental immersion incidents (where people ended up in the water when they had no intention of doing so) was the deadliest activity in terms of preventable fatal drownings. To survive an accidental fall into the water, or a situation when you’re in trouble when you’re in the water, staying calm, floating and being able to move through the water, be it on your back or doggie paddle, are essential skills to know to help you get out of trouble.
Water Safety New Zealand’s 2018 Attitudes & Behaviour survey revealed a third of Kiwis had experienced a serious situation in the water and continue to underestimate the danger posed by our waterways.
Drowning is the leading cause of recreational death, the second highest cause of unintentional injury death for 1 to 24-year-olds and the third highest cause of accidental death.
Thanks to the Warehouse for its support.
For more information about Water Skills for Life