WATER SAFETY EDUCATION WITH VAN ASCH DEAF EDUCATION CENTRE

The Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Sumner, Christchurch is a special school for deaf children.

Recently the school held a swimming workshop with students to teach them to be safer in, on and around the water.

Leanne Stocks (Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor), with the help of a signing teacher, spent the afternoon with 13 students teaching them:

• How to signal for help, 
• How to tread water, 
• When and how to wear a lifejacket, 
• How to use and float in a lifejacket, 
• How to keep warm in the water
• How to stay together in the water.

A Van Asch teacher said "the children had a lot of 'fun' but also learnt a great deal about water safety.