News
A regular update of news and articles from the media across New Zealand relating to water safety, education and rescues.
Broadcast Rules
Broadcast only pages with modules or page types that are consistent with the purpose of this page, e.g. it might accept any types or be set for one type only, e.g. Events.
Children learn these skills with Water Skills For Life
Click on each link to read about what's involved with each activity.
Water safety and awareness skills
- Recognise an emergency for yourself or others. Know who to call for help and how
- Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risks around the home, farm and around pools
- Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risk in natural environments such as at the beach, offshore, river or lake.
- Know, understand and respect water safety rules, hazards and risks for water activities such as swimming, water sports and boating
- Know how and why t make safe decisions for yourself and others
- Know how to recognise hypothermia and how to treat it
Getting in and out of the water
- Get in and out of the water safely in any environment.
- Perform this sequence with a buddy watching: check the depth of the water, check that the area is safe, jump into deep water, float on back for 1 minute to control breathing, return to edge and exit
Going under the water - Submersion
- Get under water, open eyes and control breathing
- Pick up an object from under the water
- Dive from a horizontal position in the water and move underwater for a slow count to five
Floating on the water - Personal Buoyancy
- Float, then regain feet
- Control breathing while floating on
back for at least 1 minute - Scull head-first and/or scull feet first for at least 3 minutes
- Tread water for at least 3 minutes in deep water
- Perform this sequence in deep water: correctly fit a lifejacket then tread water, scull, float or a mixture for 3 minutes while controlling breathing. Then return to edge and get out of the water
- Perform this sequence for five minutes: signal for help while treading water, sculling, floating, or a mixture, and while controlling breathing
Rolling and turning in the water - Orientation
- Horizontal rotation (front to back and back to front)
- Horizontal to vertical rotation and vice versa (front or back to upright and return)
- Vertical rotation (half rotation and full rotation) around the body’s vertical axis
What to do in an emergency - Safety of self and others
- Float and signal for help with and without a flotation aid
- Do a reach rescue and a throw rescue with a buddy
- Perform this sequence: correctly fit a lifejacket, do a step entry into deep water, float in the H.E.L.P. position, then with a couple of buddies or a group form a huddle, return to edge and get out
Moving through the water - Propulsion
- Move 15m non-stop, using any form of propulsion
- Move through the water environments of all kinds (currents, waves, depth – in situ or simulated)
- Move 50m and/or 3 minutes non-stop, confidently and competently – using any form of propulsion on their side, front, back, or a mixture
- Move 100m and/or 5 minutes non-stop, confidently and competently – using any form of propulsion on their side, front, back, or a mixture
