THERE was plenty of laughing and splashing at Muswellbrook Aquatic Centre on Thursday.
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Muswellbrook High School students and teachers welcomed summer with their annual lifesaving program at the centre, from Wednesday to Friday.
But, while they were having a great time, there were also important lessons to be learned.
Teacher Greg Morris said the 2016 national drowning report showed 280 people drowned in Australian waterways last year.
He said despite it being below the 10-year average, it was a 5 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
The 25-to-34 year age bracket had the highest number of drowning deaths, and recorded an increase of 27 per cent against the decade’s average.
They also accounted for 19 per cent of all deaths in 2015/16.
Mr Morris said it was important to teach lifesaving skills at a young age to stop more people from dying.
“Muswellbrook High continues to run its annual lifesaving program to help prevent such tragedies,” he said.
“It’s one of the largest such programs in the Hunter Region, with three days of an intensive swim and survive program for all of Years 8 to 10.
“You hear about road statistics and you hear about cancer, but we definitely lose people from drowning [as well].”
The program is designed to cater for a range of swimming skill-levels, from beginner to the competent.
It includes a range of skills needed around water-based activities; including learning to swim and water safety, CPR, sun safety, and surf awareness.
For 20 years, the school has been refining the program to make it what it is today.
Mr Morris said he was particularly proud of the way the program allowed Year 10 students to become instructors and guide younger swimmers through the lessons.
There were also some students who had recently moved to Australia not knowing how how to swim who were able to learn during the week.