SLSQ warns of drownings as schoolkids miss out on swim skills

CHILDREN are missing out on vital swimming skills because parents are leaving it up to schools to teach them.

The high cost of lessons, and the mistaken belief of parents that all schools offer swimming lessons as part of the curriculum, are being blamed for the perilous decline in swimming ability among school- aged students.

Surf Life Saving Queensland, which releases its 2017 Coast Safe report today, fears more children will drown unless the state acts.

SLSQ chief operating officer George Hill said the greatest challenge identified in the report was the increasing number of students aged five to 17 who displayed low to poor swimming ability.

Mr Hill said this posed a grave risk, as illustrated in drowning and rescue figures and feedback from lifesavers, parents and experts.

He said the state body was looking to work directly with key stakeholders, including the State Government, to develop and implement mandatory school- based programs to help improve the swimming ability of young Queenslanders.

“This is very serious. There is no doubt that if we don’t act soon we will see a rise in fatalities involving children,’’ Mr Hill said. “We believe that parents and government, whether it’s the education or health department, have a joint responsibility to waterproof our children.

“We live in a country that prides itself on its water environment – and indeed sells this image to the world – and we are not equipping our young people to survive in it.’’

SLSQ said it had brought the issue to the attention of government and initial feedback was it would be difficult to implement mandatory water safety and swimming lessons due to the cost.

The association plans to build on its nippers program this summer and increase safety talks targeting children.