1 Formula Rookies

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.