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PAW Patrol teams up with Bondi Rescue

An unlikely meeting on Bondi Beach today, but all in the name of water safety.

Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol teamed up with Bondi Rescue this morning to launch a new PAW Patrol Safety First! initiative.

US swimming champ Michael Phelps, who also serves as the PAW Patrol Safety First! Global Water Safety Ambassador, will feature in Public Service Announcements on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels and social media.

Phelps and his son Boomer draw upon a sing-along format to teach the “ABCs and 123s of Swim Safety”, this summer.

Nickelodeon has partnered with the Michael Phelps Foundation to develop an interactive PAW Patrol Swim Safety toolkit, currently available at nickjr.com.au/watersafety.

“Water Safety has been a priority in my family since I was a child as my mum was adamant that my sisters and I learn to swim for safety purposes. The statistics around accidental drowning are alarming and we want to help educate and encourage families with a few basic tips in a fun and informative way, thanks to Nickelodeon and the PAW Patrol pups,” said Phelps.

The ABCs for adults include: A – Adult Supervision – always be within arms distance of kids, providing focused supervision; B – Barriers – all pools should have a barrier for entry and a self-latching gate; and C – Classes that concentrate on swimming for kids and CPR for adults. The ABCs are an important way to make sure everyone feels safe and confident in the water.

The 123s of Swim Safety for kids include: 1 – Never swim alone – ask a grownup if you want to jump in; 2 – Know your surroundings – look around and know which is the shallow and deep end; and 3 – Take swimming classes – learn basic swimming skills like floating and strokes before getting in the pool.

The toolkit includes printable activities that caregivers and kids can complete together, to teach and reinforce the importance of water safety, such as: The Swim Safety Maze Challenge; Zuma’s Swim Safety Count and Colour activity, which teaches kids the importance of blowing bubbles; and a water safety demo in the form of a game of ‘Show-see-do.”

Royal Life Saving Australia’s 2020 National Drowning Report found 50% of drowning fatalities of children between 0 and 4 happened in a swimming pool with 75% as a result of a fall. 25% of drowning fatalities of children aged between 5 and 14 were also in a swimming pool with 56% as a result of swimming and recreation.

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