SAN NICOLAS TO LAUNCH FREE WATER SURVIVAL, SWIMMING LESSON FOR GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS

In its bid to make San Nicolas a drowning-free municipality, Mayor Alicia L. Primicias-Enriquez will launch a free Water Survival & Swimming Lesson program for grade school students on September 28, 2024. This initiative aims to equip the town’s schoolchildren with essential water safety skills and reduce the alarming number of drowning deaths in the country.

The program, designed by Survivalist Philippines, will provide a comprehensive crash course in water survival techniques. Participants will learn practical skills and tactics for staying safe in the water, regardless of their swimming ability. This initiative is particularly crucial considering the country’s high drowning rate. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is a significant public health concern in the country, with over 3,000 Filipinos dying from drowning annually. This translates to an average of 10 deaths per day. The Philippine Statistics Authority further highlights the severity of the issue, reporting 3,604 drowning-related deaths in 2021 alone. UNICEF-PNIS data reveals that a staggering 35% of drowning victims are children.

Mayor Alice emphasized the program’s regular nature, stating that it will be held every weekend at the Agpay Eco Tourism Park. The lessons will be facilitated by Noel Cabobos, president of Survivalist Philippines and a member of the San Nicolas Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. He will be assisted by a team of accredited rescue-trainers and lifeguards.

“This program represents a significant step towards promoting water safety and in making San Nicolas a drowning-free municipality. By empowering our schoolchildren with essential skills and knowledge on water survival and basics of swimming, we aim to create a safer environment and in making our water bodies a safe space for our children,” she noted.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞.