Since June 2014, we have teamed up with local fitness centre
1 Formula Fitness to develop and deliver a purpose built, Rookie Lifesaver
course, teaching vital water safety messages as well as practical survival and
rescue skills.
Throughout the summer months, the 'Rookies' underwent a
comprehensive 6 week course concentrating on beach safety and surf lifesaving
skills. This program was deemed a
massive success and as a result was extended to offer a second group to be
delivered in tandem, allowing us and our partners to open up training to even
more young people from across the county.
During the Autumn term the 'Rookies' underwent a further 6 weeks of
training and concentrated on the dangers of inland waters learning about
rivers, lakes, quarries and pools. Once
again the instructors delivered the program through a participation basis
allowing candidates to experience being trapped in moving water, learning how
to utilise survival swimming techniques and how to render support to someone in
difficulty.
During the course candidates also underwent basic first aid
training learning how perform CPR, put casualties into the recovery position
and summon help in an emergency.
The course concluded this week with the Rookies Christmas
party where they were presented with their 1 Formula Fitness and Water Safety
Europe T-shirts.
'Rookies' will return to 1 Formula Fitness in January when
the course will be expanded further, including intensive sessions enabling the
centre to accommodate more local children so they too can benefit from learning
the core water safety skills.
