SAFETY IN WATER

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 23

SAFETY IN WATER

Children Win Prizes “The results show that children have more idea of water safety than is generally realised,” said Mr F. Adam, a spokesman for the National Water Safety Council, commenting on a national essay competition sponsored by the council and its local committees.

The three winners were Peter Mounsey, form VA, Mount Maunganui College, 1; John Vincent, form m, Christchurch Boys* High School 2; Frances McClure, form 11, Blockhouse Bay Intermediate School, Auckland, 3.

The winners were selected from 36 finalists of local competitions throughout New Zealand. In his entry, Peter Mounsey placed learning to swim first among important precautions for those who bathe, fish, or go boating. He said that learning to swim “. . . might be termed an emergency precaution,” and said its value was incalculable.

He placed common sense second among precautions, saying “this covers a wide scope and, strange as it may seem, many deaths are the fault of people who should know better.”

John Vincent suggested that the big number of boating fatalities was not surprising in view of the increasing number of small craft. “What la not understandable,” he said, “is the carelessness and total disregard for danger shown by some people; There is no excuse for overloading small boats or for not wearing a life-jacket” Frances McClure said that “many fatal accidents bare occurred through paoplo not obswimming hi unsafe areas. Fuente or guardians should take particular note of this point, especially with children younger than five, not capable of reading these signs.” “Tm sure that parents would not want to be shewn up by their children,” said Mr Adam. “If the knowledge of water safety displayed In there eecajujc typical of New Zeeland children, then parents wn have to work hard to keep ahead.”