Aqua Skills lead to Bronze Cross

For a group of ladies in their 50s, 60s and 70s, attending a pilot program in 2018 for the Aqua Skills 55+ course, has led to a remarkable five-year journey together to further develop and maintain their aquatic rescue skills.

Five of the women have successfully progressed from the initial Aqua Skills program to the Bronze Cross lifesaving award, the highest ranking and most challenging award in the Bronze Rescue series.

Royal Life Saving WA Aquatic Trainer Isabel Franzoni says the women have now set their sights on obtaining their Pool Lifeguard qualification.

“That’s the goal for this year, purely to better their knowledge and challenge themselves to go further than they thought possible,” she says.

According to the latest National Drowning Report, Australian seniors aged 65 to 74 are the most at-risk age group for drowning, with 94 older people losing their lives in the past year. 

Ensuring they won’t be another statistic, the group is learning survival skills, first aid and CPR, and complex search and rescue scenarios including how to help someone who’s distressed and how to tow an unconscious casualty. 

Isabel says the women gain so much more than just water safety knowledge.

“It’s a social group which is great for their active minds, and they all encourage each other to go the distance,” she says.

“They also keep each other safe and check up on one another if someone doesn’t turn up for class.”

Isabel says the skills these women have been learning have given them the ability to potentially save someone’s life.

“It’s important for them as most babysit their grandchildren and take them out to places where there’s water. Most participants in this group also go on to teach others how to recognise someone in trouble and how to help them even if they can’t swim,” she says.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Aqua Skills 55+ program and the lifesaving skills you could learn through the course, follow the link below.