Cavan Monaghan Fire Department helps Millbrook South Cavan Students Get to the Pool

By Karen Graham

Two grade three classes from Millbrook South Cavan School were the beneficiaries of funding from the Lifesaving Society school grant designed to provide students with the minimum skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.  The program includes three in-class sessions on water safety and three one hour in-water sessions which for MSC students concluded last Thursday at the Peterborough Wellness Centre, when they received their certificates.  This event was organized by the Cavan Monaghan Fire Department working with a local coordinating group, Peterborough Risk Watch Network.  This group is a coalition of local organizations dedicated to safety and drowning prevention, and includes fire departments, police, paramedics, local health units and the Lifesaving Society.  Coalition members do not have only passive roles in the delivery of these programs.  The in-class sessions are delivered by members of the Fire Department, the police and Peterborough Paramedics.

The Lifesaving Society is a national volunteer organization and registered charity operating across Canada and globally in 25 countries.  They provide a range of programs, products and services designed to prevent drowning and water related injuries through the delivery of training programs, Water Smart® public education, aquatic safety management services, drowning research and lifesaving sport.  Since 1896, they have been delivering safety training and services, and now each year over 1 million Canadians participate in their programs and deliver professional lifeguard training and certification.

They conduct research to identify people most at risk, such as fishermen in small boats, and where they can make a significant impact, particularly for young children and their parents.  They know that most drownings occur in unsupervised settings, so many of their programs are focussed on helping people acquire lifesaving skills to save themselves and others in an aquatic emergency.

For the grade three classes of Tracey Boyd, Shari Little and Deb Kroesen, the chance to visit the pool on a snowy blowy day was a welcome change from the classroom.

 

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