This week, Olympic legend and water safety expert, Dr.Shane Gould launched the Float to Survive drowning prevention program at Sandon Point Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in Wollongong.
Float to Survive is an evidence-based drowning prevention program that provides free ocean safety lessons to the Illawarra community through Sandon Point SLSC and Northern Stars Swim School.
Made possible by support from the IMB Bank Community Foundation, the program focuses on teaching vital floating skills that can save lives in any aquatic environment.
Dr. Gould, who won five individual medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games at age 15, says even experienced swimmers need to know how to float safely.
“If we are ever going to reduce drownings, people must understand the importance of floating. Knowing why you must float and how to float is vital as it gives you the best chance of survival in deep water. I practice floating every time I swim!"
“I’m proud to be the Ambassador of Float to Survive, to help spread this simple but vital message that could save lives in our community”, said Dr. Gould.
Ken Holloway, President of Sandon Point SLSC, says having Dr. Shane Gould supporting this message shows just how important floating skills are for swimmers of all abilities.
"Drowning can occur in as little as 20 seconds when people panic in deep water. If a victim can resist their instinct to struggle and simply float, they have a much greater chance of survival – so, by teaching people how to float, we're giving them time to think clearly and either wait for help or recover enough energy to swim to safety," said Mr. Holloway.
“With the support of the IMB Bank Community Foundation, we can now offer these potentially life-saving lessons free to our community – ensuring more families across the Illawarra have access to essential water safety skills beyond the traditional ‘swim between the flags’ message.”
IMB Bank Chief Executive Officer, Rob Ryan, said: "It's incredibly rewarding to see how the Float to Survive program has transformed IMB Bank Community Foundation funding into real, life saving impact for the Illawarra community. This is exactly what our Foundation stands for – supporting innovative local initiatives that make our communities safer and stronger. By making these vital water safety skills accessible to everyone free of charge, Float to Survive exemplifies the type of meaningful community project we're proud to support."
The Float to Survive program emerged six years ago when members of the local Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities approached Holloway seeking alternative water safety messages. They explained that in many countries, red and yellow flags signal danger, and many people swim in locations without lifeguards, such as pools, dams, and rivers.
Dr. Gould, who completed her PhD in swimming culture from the University of Victoria in 2019, is a National Living Treasure and Member of the Order of Australia (AM). She continues to swim daily in the ocean in Bicheno, Tasmania.
Float to Survive lessons take place on Friday evenings at Northern Stars Swim School in Russell Vale, and at the Sandon Point SLSC on Saturday mornings for the remainder of the swimming season.
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