Shire’s seniors invited to learn life-saving skills
With the weather warming up and summer just around the corner, Wingecarribee Shire Council is hosting the Royal Life Saving Australia Grey Medallion program to help equip older adults with water safety and emergency response skills.
Older Australians make up a large proportion of the drowning statistics in Australia – according to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report for 2013, 39 per cent of all drowning deaths were people aged 55 or over.
As the pool season kicks off in the Southern Highlands, swimming is a popular way to keep fit and healthy for people of all ages, and grandparents are often on watch.
The Grey Medallion teaches valuable skills to help prevent child drowning and encourages an independent and active lifestyle along with the essential skills needed in order to participate in aquatic and recreation activities safely.
To complete the Grey Medallion participants must attend four half-day sessions:
Tuesday 21st October: 8.45am – 11am, Water Safety
Thursday 23rd October: 8.45am – 11am, Resuscitation/Emergency Care
Tuesday 28th October: 8:45am – 11am, Aquatic Exercise (includes demonstrations on outdoor gym equipment)
Thursday 30th October: 8.45am – 11am, Personal Survival and Lifesaving Skills
Tuesday 4th November: 9am – 10.30am, Overview, Q&A, Presentation and Morning Tea. (no charge– all welcome).
The Grey Medallion costs $55 to complete (four sessions), or participants can come along to single sessions at a cost of $16 each. Please call Laura at Bowral Pool on (02) 4861 2598 to book your place.
Swimming skills are not needed to complete the program.
For more information about the Grey Medallion, please visit the Royal Life Saving website: www.royallifesaving.com.au/programs/grey-medallion