The city and the Winnipeg School Division have launched a pilot program to teach Grade 3 and 4 students basic swimming and water safety skills.
The program, called Swimming Counts, will provide one hour of classroom education and three in-pool lessons for about 2,300 students from 59 area schools. It’s hoped instruction in survival swimming and basic water skills will help prevent drownings.
“The Swimming Counts program is going to save lives by giving our students a basic level of survival skills when it comes to water,” said Winnipeg School Division Trustee Mark Wasyliw.
The Canadian Red Cross is providing resources and curriculum supports to the program. According to the city, if the pilot project works out, it may be offered in other schools and in areas around Winnipeg.
The idea of offering such training through the school system so every child can access it was endorsed by the World Health Organization in 2017.
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