Life Saving Victoria launches new online game to teach children about water safety
This article is contributed by our collaborative partners, Life Saving Victoria.
Life Saving Victoria (LSV) has launched Swim City – an exciting online adventure teaching Victorian children how to stay safe around water using gamification.
The game has been designed to help primary school-aged children achieve the knowledge component of the Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC), following almost two years of interruptions to swimming lessons and water safety education during the pandemic.
LSV Education Projects Coordinator Jessica Acocks said it was more important than ever to educate Victorian students about swimming and water safety, after 15 children drowned during 2020-21 – a significant increase on previous years.
“We knew kids had missed critical development of their water safety knowledge during prolonged lockdowns and needed a way to help catch up their water safety skills – not only physical, but also their theoretical understanding of the risks around water,” said Ms Acocks.
“This is why we developed Swim City – to help teach primary school-aged kids how to identify water-based risks and help them catch up on those missed water safety education opportunities.
“By playing Swim City, primary school-aged students can jump online and meet Finn, Pod and Splash, and explore their favourite water environments while learning about water safety – no pool required.
“We’re calling all teachers, parents and guardians of primary-school aged kids to check it out and spread the word. The game only takes about 30 minutes, but provides potentially lifesaving lessons.
LSV is giving away five $100 Coles Myer gift cards to help promote the water safety program.
To enter the draw, parents and guardians should head to Life Saving Victoria’s Facebook or Instagram post and enter your child’s favourite Swim City waterway and what they learnt while playing the game in the comments.
The competition runs from 9am on Monday 22 November until 11.59pm on Monday 13 December. For terms and conditions, head to: https://bit.ly/3cb1B1j
For further information, head to LSV's website.