Splash Palace is reaching out to the tamariki of Invercargill in a bid to raise awareness this Water Safety Month.
Invercargill City Council Aquatic Services Manager Stephen Cook said with summer fast approaching, it was vital for whānau to stay safety conscious when enjoying a splash – either in the pool, on the coast, or in the lake.
Each November, the team at Splash Palace focused on key safety messages and, this year, it had focused its efforts on its youngest pool users, he said.
“New Zealand is blessed with some of the world’s best beaches, scenic rivers and lakes – getting out and about in the water is just part of our DNA. Tragically, our country has an alarmingly high drowning rate,” he said.
“For lots of children, the fundamentals of learning to swim starts at their local pool. Our focus isn’t just on keeping people safe while they’re here – it’s about making sure we are contributing to a solid foundation that will help keep our community safe in the years to come.”
The pool had several initiatives to make water safety education engaging and accessible for kids, helping to foster life-saving skills early on, Cook said.
Young pool users visiting Splash Palace in November would be treated to water safety-themed stickers, and could get amongst a water safety-themed colouring competition, which had also been delivered to preschools and primary schools throughout the region.
“While a lot of what we are doing this time around is quite kid-focused, the campaign is a collective effort to make Invercargill a safer place by involving parents, schools, and the wider community in water safety education. We’re honing in on some really key safety messaging: how to identify hazards, the importance of brightly-coloured swimwear, the importance of lifejackets, and more,” he said.
Splash Palace would also open Swim School registrations for 2025 early, to tie in with Water Safety Month. Registrations for Term 1 would open on 18 November, he said.
Splash Palace’s Learn to Swim programme focused on providing children with confidence in and around the water, and advancing their abilities so that they could participate in aquatic sports and other recreational activities. Swim School was available across a huge age range – from three month olds and up, children with physical disabilities, and adult learners. Discounts were available for Community Service Cardholders, and families with three or more children, Cook said. “Our hope is that Splash Palace is able to play a key role in instilling water safety education, that will last our kids a lifetime.”
