Royal Life launch new program at Emerton Leisure Centre
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The NSW Royal Life Saving Society will launch its new Grey Medallion Program at Emerton Leisure Centre.
The Grey Medallion Program is a new water safety program developed for people over 55 years to promote a healthy, active and safe aquatic lifestyle and to combat the increasing drowning trends in this age demographic.
Emerton Leisure Centre will be the first facility to offer this exciting new program and an introductory course will be delivered over 4 weeks commencing Tuesday, June 3 from
12pm - 2pm and will be FREE for all participants.
The four modules of the course include:
- Water Safet
- Resuscitation and Emergency care
- Aquatic exercise
- Personal survival skills and lifesaving
All components of the course are designed to provide participants with an enthusiastic and encouraging approach to all the issues. Learning will be delivered through a range of methods of interactive, educational and FUN activities. Participants will also be supported by experienced staff and encouraged to share their knowledge and skills with each other
Each year, approximately 60 people aged 55 years and older drown in Australuan waterways (Royal Life Saving's Older Australians Aquatic Safety Report). This figure may be attributed to older people making a sea change, participating in more aquatic activities in their retirement and having a lack of understanding of their current swimming skills.
"The introduction of this course at our Emerton Leisure Centre reinforces this Council's
pro-active approach to community safety and once again demonstrates how partnerships with organisations like the Royal Life Saving Society can benefit the community".
"I encourage our senior members of the community to take full advantage of this wonderful course and secure a spot now" said Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Leo Kelly, OAM.
The development of the Royal Life Saving Grey Medallion Program has been supported by the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing which recognises that the Grey Medallion Program encourages people to remain independent and active as they age, while also reducing drowning rates.
This is an accredited Royal Life Saving course, at the completion of the course participants will be awarded a certificate. For more information regarding this program, please contact the Centre on 9628 7016. Spaces are limited.
Emerton Leisure Centre, Jersey Road, Emerton