Water safety day for children

Young people will be learning how to stay safe in the water this weekend.

Cook Islands Water Safety and Surf Life Saving Council (CIWSSLS) is running a water safety day at the Rarotonga Sailing Club on Saturday, for children between seven and 14 years.

There will be two sessions from 9-10am and 10.30-11.30am, with some of the class involving time in the water.

Water Safety Council Vice President Shannon Saunders, who will be helping to run the sessions along with the council’s President Brent Fisher and Secretary Georgia Langdon, said children will learn about waves, currents, basic rescue techniques and how to be sun smart and safe at the beach.

Chris Webber from New Zealand’s Piha Surf Life Saving Club, who has featured on the television programme Piha Rescue, will be attending as a guest speaker and Westpac staff will also be there to help out on the day.

Saunders said this is the first time the safety day has been held, but there may be more in future.

“If it goes well we hope to do one a term,” she said.

To register interest in attending one of the sessions, contact Shannon Saunders on 54144.