Diving in to stay alive

Lina Stahlhut, 9, demonstrates her swimming technique after lessons. PHOTOS/STEPHEN PARKER

The weather is finally warming up and people are hitting the water - but the reality is that many Rotorua children can't swim to save themselves if they get into trouble. Rebecca Malcolm investigates what can be done to change this.

Alastair Johnson has a dream that if this generation of youngsters are taught to swim to survive, it will be part of the culture of the next generation.

He's all too aware of the figures that show many primary school children don't have the skills they need to save themselves if they get into trouble in the water.

The Rotorua swimming coach and swim school teacher has a passion for water. He grew up in a swimming family and became a swimming teacher and coach.

But it's that grass roots area where he really sees the potential and says the fact that so many children don't know how to swim isn't surprising, but is disappointing.

"The figures are that about 70-75 per cent of children at primary school level are not at a standard they could survive. Study after study pretty much says the same thing."
Surviving, in technical terms, is kids being able to swim 200m or stay afloat in the water for about five minutes.

Charlie Apperley, 10, hits the water under the supervision of Alastair Johnson.

According to Alastair, part of that comes back to the vertical lifestyle we lead and our history. The prone position for swimming isn't natural for us, and the survival instincts drummed into us from generations ago like fight or flight just don't work well when we're faced with a tricky situation in the water.

Swimming as a family, getting children used to the water from an early age and getting professional lessons are all keys to making sure children develop the swimming skills they need to survive, he says.

"A lot of parents stop swimming lessons when they [children] can swim a little bit. They really need to keep them going longer, at least to a good club standard."
As part of his work with Swim Rotorua, and in conjunction with Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and Te Arawa Lakes Trust, a swimming programme has been launched at Owhata School. In the Wai programme children are taught swimming in an after-school environment focusing on survival techniques and personal development.

Funding has been received for two years, and it is hoped more funding will be secured to continue the programme at the school and expand it in to other schools.
According to Owhata principal Bob Stiles, the programme is paying off.
About 60 kids a term go through the programme during the summer terms. It runs for two afternoons a week, and Mr Stiles says the benefits are being noticed during the school swimming lessons included in the curriculum.
A big emphasis is placed on swimming within the school, with a goal that all Year 6 students can swim 200m by the time they leave.

Allie Clarke, 10, is a strong swimmer.

At the Rotorua Aquatic Centre they're doing their bit too.

Swimsation co-ordinator Katrina Allen believes there's almost a lost generation of adults who aren't confident and comfortable in the water - and that's had an impact now they've started having children.
Through Rotorua Aquatic Centre's swimsation programme, they've had about 1000 children go through swimming lessons over the past term, and expect next term's figures to be similar.

This year, for the first time, they've also run a Swim to Survive programme.
Forget proper technique, the 10 swimming lessons run over a two-week timeframe are all about giving children the tools to survive in the water.
The target is to have 30 per cent of those going through the programme be able to swim for 200m by the end. They've exceeded the goal with 60 per cent reaching the target. "That's 642 children who can do that."

Water confidence and safety starts early, she says.

At Swimsation, they take infants from 6 months old, but there's things parents can do at home too.
"Make water play fun, messy bath times, lots of splashing."
She says it can be a fine balance for parents between making their children aware of the water and the dangers, while not instilling a fear in them.

"Some of it comes with a relaxed parent. If a parent is relaxed they give off good vibes."
Katrina says she heard it explained a good way recently - using the analogy of holding hands and looking both ways while crossing a road.

"From day dot that is what we need to encourage with children. So that it is safe, fun and controlled."

Katrina herself was one of those swim school mums, starting her children off from a young age.
They're now confident club swimmers able to comfortably swim 2km.

"I feel so much more confident knowing they are skilled swimmers.

Growing up in Holland, swimming teacher Henk Greupink was taught swimming and water safety in a different way.
Focus was first on teaching kids breast stroke as a survival method, before graduating to other strokes.
He believes in the method so much that he started his own swim school - Orange Swim School - so he could teach kids the way he wanted.

While formal swimming lessons are great, Henk says there's plenty parents can do too.

"The very, very first thing for any parent is water awareness. Teaching kids to get in and out of the water, can they float, can they blow bubbles."

When heading to a swimming pool in summer, Henk says parents should be aware of factors like the temperature, how deep a pool is, where they can get in and out.
The other major factor is making sure people are swimming in the right clothing.

"Inappropriate clothing is a biggie. People are swimming in baggie shorts and tees."

That means if they get into trouble, the risk of it ending badly is so much greater.
While the number of kids who can't swim doesn't surprise him, he does admit to being slightly surprised at the number of adults who can't swim.

He believes with that comes a touch of embarrassment, but also a desire to make sure their kids learn.

Whatever prompts it, the end result of more kids being able to swim can only be a good thing.