Guests and fans alike at Albany Creek Leisure Centre were treated with a special visit from none other than Bondi Rescue lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins this week as he shared an important water safety message ahead of summer.
In partnership with Australia’s leading swim school, GOswim, Hoppo is spearheading the nation’s largest water safety campaign of the year this November: Float to Survive with GOswim.
This initiative is set to make waves across the country, aiming to equip 60,000 GOswim students with the skills to stay afloat in emergency aquatic situations, and inform many more of the need to have this essential skill.
The campaign comes in response to alarming figures from the 2024 National Drowning Report, which shows drownings have increased by 16% over the past year compared to the 10-year average, reinforcing the need for stronger water safety education across all age groups.
Hoppo will deliver this message across the country via a month-long national campaign, visiting aquatic venues in NSW, VIC, QLD and SA to help spread the message. Hoppo’s first stop: Albany Creek Leisure Centre!
Members of the community today had the chance to meet Hoppo, practice their floating skills and learn more about the campaign. Hoppo’s aim; to simply encourage Aussies, no matter their age, background or ability to strengthen their floating skills.
Ellie Earl from Albany Creek has grown up watching Hoppo on TV and said: “Living in Queensland, we’ve got lots of access to water and we get really hot summers, and a lot of people have backyard pools, so the kids love being in the water. It’s really good if they are safe while doing so, so learning how to float and general water safety skills and having swimming lessons is really important”.
Additionally, from November 1-30, 250,000 swim lessons in almost 80 locations around Australia, including Albany Creek, will start with five minutes of float training, with a focus on Hoppo’s three step Float to Survive strategy:
- Reach your head back to keep your mouth above water
- Keep your mouth soft / don’t clench
- Gently rotate your arms and legs in a circle motion
“I’m stoked to have partnered with GOswim to reach tens of thousands of students with this lifesaving message, which is relevant to anyone, in any aquatic situation; whether it is in the surf, creek, river, lake or swimming pool,” Hoppo commented.
“In the lead up to summer, this is a water safety skill that is non-negotiable, and I’m excited to get out and about across the country to spread this message to help Aussies learn how to stay safe in the water.”
Sarah Podesta, Aquatics Manager at Belgravia Leisure is working with Hoppo to spread this message to as many Aussies as possible.
“Not only are we looking to upskill over 60,000 GOswim students with the ability to float this November, but we are also looking to spread the word to all Aussies, no matter their age, ability, background or circumstance. Anyone can drown, but no one should, and we believe that spreading this message will hands down save lives.”
Royal Life Saving CEO Justin Scarr highlighted the importance of spreading water safety messages such as learning how to float to everyone, no matter their age or background ahead of summer.
“The 2024 National Drowning Report revealed that 92 adults aged 65 or older drowned, the largest number ever, making up 28 per cent of the total drownings for the year. Additionally, 25 per cent of people were born overseas, including refugees, migrants and international students, underscoring the need for water safety skills to be taught to everyone, not just children”.
“Simple yet essential skills like floating can mean the difference between life and death when someone is caught in a rip, struggling in a river, or simply out of their depth in a pool” Scarr added.
With summer on the horizon, the Float to Survive with GOswim campaign serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of water safety, and Hoppo, alongside GOswim, is leading the charge to keep Australians safe in the water.
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