SA: Lifesavers warn state swim program not safe

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2008
SA: Lifesavers warn state swim program not safe

By Larine Statham

ADELAIDE, Dec 1 AAP - With 11 people drowning on South Australian beaches last summer,
the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia says it has serious safety concerns about this
season's state Vacswim program.

Surf Life Saving SA is not leaving water safety education to the state government alone,
increasing its presence this year, with many clubs providing two patrolled swimming areas
at each beach and extended hours of operation.

"There are 300 drownings in Australia each year," Surf Life Saving SA state manager,
Shane Daw said.

"Last year there were 11 drownings on South Australian beaches and the previous year
there were about four.

"That's a dramatic and alarming increase that should be of concern to everyone."

A review of the proposed Vacswim program to be offered to children aged between five
and 14, conducted by the Royal Life Saving Society South Australia deputy chairman Kevin
Burrows, found the program would provide inadequate guidance to instructors and overlooked
essential and basic survival requirements.

Vacswim is a SA government funded, privately run teach kids to swim program for school
aged children from five years and up.

Mr Burrows said for the first time in 78 years the Society had been compelled to prevent
Vacswim from using its Royal Life Saving log book in conjunction with the program.

Mr Daw said Surf Life Saving SA would be running a number of programs to assist several
different groups which frequent the beach, including rural Australians and migrants, who
accounted for 25 per cent of all drownings in South Australia.

"Complacency can also be one of the biggest factors," he said.

While there hadn't been a shark attack in SA in about four years, Mr Daw said there
had been a number of sightings already this season and that the rescue helicopter was
on stand by to herd sharks back out to sea.

"Shark attacks are not a common activity, but it evokes one of the biggest primal fears
in people," he said.

Emergency service minister Michael Wright said a fixed wing aircraft provided by the
University of South Australia would conduct shark patrols along the SA coastline, from
North Haven to Sellicks between 11am and 8pm on week days from Monday, to compliment patrols
already being conducted on weekends and public holidays by Surf Life Saving SA.

"The safety of beachgoers is paramount and it is important that our metropolitan beaches
are covered seven days a week over the peak summer period," Mr Wright said.

Record numbers are expected to flock to the beach this year, as the Bureau of Meteorology
forecasts higher than normal temperatures during the next three months.

The Bureau on Monday said Adelaide residents could expect another heatwave in February
and below average rainfall over Christmas and into the new year.

AAP lcs/maur

KEYWORD: SUMMER SA

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