Cardiff Met Aquatics supports World Drowning Prevention Day event

Cardiff Metropolitan University welcomed Swim Wales and the Black Swimming Association (BSA) to Cyncoed Campus as the Cardiff Met swimming pool hosted a special water safety event marking World Drowning Prevention Day.

The Swim Safe Cymru Pwll sessions brought families together to learn vital water safety knowledge and practical skills designed to help prevent drowning and increase confidence in and around water.

Cardiff Met Aquatics supported the event, with swimming teachers Caitlin Chance, Ghita Sania and Kerry DeOliveiraworking directly with participants in the pool and helping them develop potentially lifesaving water safety skills.

Delivered by Swim Wales and the Black Swimming Association, the initiative reinforced the important message behind World Drowning Prevention Day:

Anyone can drown. No one should.

Alongside learning the Water Safety Code, participants were encouraged to understand and practise one of the most important skills for anyone who finds themselves unexpectedly in difficulty in the water: floating.

As part of the #FindYourFloat message, people are encouraged to practise floating in a safe, supervised environment such as a swimming pool:

• Tilt your head back, keeping your ears submerged.

• Relax and try to breathe normally.

• Move your hands and feet gently to help you remain afloat.

• Don't worry if your legs sink, everyone floats differently.

• Practise the technique in a supervised location.

Developing familiarity with the technique can make it easier to remember if it is ever needed in an emergency, either for yourself or when helping someone else understand what to do.

Through the support of Cardiff Met Aquatics, Swim Wales and the Black Swimming Association, families were able to learn, practise and share simple water safety messages that could ultimately save a life.