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The closest beach is 150 kilometers (93 miles) away but [some] young children [in Australia] are being taught the same skills as their coastal friends. They are taking part in the Bush Nippers program.
“We’ve just moved house and we’re near a lake, so it’s really important for her to learn water safety, she’s only 5 years old,” says Tess Holmes.
“I want him to be able to learn to feel confident to help someone else who might [be] in trouble,” says [another] mother.
The young children learn techniques like CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). They also learn other rescue skills and water conditions inland.
“We have been doing safety backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. And always to learn to go on your back when you’re in the Murray (river) or a rip,” says Bush Nipper Makayla Soko.
With almost half of drownings in Victoria happening inland last year, what these children are learning is more important than ever. And many of these drownings happen close to a person’s home.
“40 percent of drownings have occurred in the person’s local residential area,” says Jodie Walker of Life Saving Victoria.
Bronwyn Soko used to be a beach lifeguard. Now that she lives inland, she wants her daughter Makayla to learn about the dangers of currents and underwater objects in murky waterways.
“It’s not just teaching them to be safe in a pool environment, it’s showing them the uncontrolled outdoors environment,” she says.
At the moment, the Bush Nippers program is available in six regional locations but Life Saving Victoria is exploring the idea of expanding it further.
“I think the plan is to get it in as many regional communities, especially ones that have a reservoir or are on a river,” says Greta Curran of Life Saving Victoria.
It’s a program the children love that could save a lot of lives.
“I love Bush Nippers,” says one child.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.