Local water safety experts are encouraging adults to brush up on their swimming skills as data shows that children are stopping swimming lessons at an early age.
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The recent drownings in the Murrumbidgee River have shown that adults are not immune to these tragic incidents.
The Royal Life Saving Society, in 2018, found that the current generation of children were starting swimming lessons at a younger age but 75 per cent of children were stopping swimming lessons by the age of eight.
Amie Kennedy and her nine-year-old son Hayden moved over to Australia from Colarado, United States, more than two years ago.
Ms Kennedy said she didn’t know the importance of swimming until she moved here.
“I think it is very important, we come from Colarado and Hayden didn’t know how to swim and he struggled when we moved to Australia,” she said.
“But, the fact that school provided swimming lessons for the kids got him interested into swimming and I think it’s excellent.”
Ms Kennedy said she can swim but admitted her son is better than her at this stage, however stressed she would not stop her children’s swimming lessons until she felt confident.
“Any time you’re around kids, parents need to know how to swim as well because you have to be there to protect them,” she said.
“Hayden decided he wanted to go into clubs and go further and we also have a first-grader and he also started young, but I told the kids that they could stop swimming lessons when I feel like they are safe in the water.
“Safe in the water to me, means where I don’t feel like I have to manage every step that they’re doing.”
Hayden is attending Lake Albert Public School and said he is really enjoying being in the water.
“I like playing in the water and races are fun once you’re in them, you’re nervous before the race but when you’re actually in the race you’re not as nervous,” he said.
Another Wagga resident Larry Logan said he was shocked to find that many students could not swim well.
"At the school carnival today, 90 per cent of the students could only just swim, which isn't good in our facilities that we have available," Mr Logan said.
"Only a very small percentage could swim properly."
Wagga’s Oasis Aquatic Centre manager Maurice Eames said adults should not be “complacent” when it comes to swimming.
“Learning to swim is a vital skill and you should never be complacent with you or your child’s ability in the water, particularly in waterways and rivers,” Mr Eames said.
“Oasis operates the Royal Lifesaving’s Swim and Survive program, which provides a broad, balanced program of swimming, water safety and survival skills in preparation for a lifetime of safe activity in, on or near the water.
“Swimming lessons are available for babies (six months) through to adults and our lessons progress all the way from water familiarisation to water safety and stroke correction.”
Mr Eames said adults not only gain "low-impact" exercise benefits from undertaking swimming programs, but also the opportunity to improve their confidence in the water and meet new people.
Royal Life Saving Society CEO Justin Scarr said he is concerned that children may be stopping lessons before achieving essential swimming, lifesaving and water safety benchmarks.
“Younger is not always better, and our concern is many children exit swimming lessons at an age where they are less likely to learn the lifesaving skills that will help to protect them as they enter adulthood and are exposed to more hazardous water environments,” Mr Scarr said.
Royal Life Saving advises parents to have the skills of their 10-14 year old children re-assessed to see if they need to undertake further swimming lessons.
Wagga’s State Emergency Service local controller Daniel Mahoney strongly encouraged adults to check over their swimming skills for both for pleasure of being in the water on a hot day and to stay safe when you are.
“Living around the creek, river and dams means it is always goof for people to be able to look after themselves,” Mr Mahoney said.
“I think that would be a fantastic idea for adults to brush up on their swimming skills.
“We 100 per cent encourage people to learn how to swim at any age.”