On March 26, the Lithuanian Children and Youth Center (LVJC) held "Swim NOT to Drown" event, where celebrities dived into the pool and tested their water survival skills. In this way, together with the Lithuanian Children and Youth Center, they sought to draw the public's attention to drowning and show the possibilities of reducing it.
Every year, when the weather warms up, open bodies of water begin to be accompanied not only by pleasure, but also by drowning. Although the situation in Lithuania is improving, the drowning rates remain among the highest in the world. The main reasons for this are not knowing how to swim or not knowing how to swim, overestimating swimming skills, recklessness and not knowing how to act in adverse situations in the water.
In view of this, the "swim NOT to sink" event was held to encourage thinking, not to be indifferent.
During it, Justinas and Justina Jaručiai, Gabrielius Liaudanskas-Svaras, Laura Vagonė, Tadas Pocius, Giedrė Valavičiūtė, Vaida Grikšaitė-Česnauskienė, Valdas Jankauskas, and children dived into the pool and tried the Dutch "Swimming ABC" program adapted from the Lithuanian Children and Youth Center. This program is unique in that it teaches children not only how to swim, but also other vital skills: how to deal with an unexpected fall into the water with clothes on, how to navigate underwater without goggles, how to swim a greater distance and stay afloat longer in emergency situations.
The participants turned and jumped headfirst into the water, floated vertically and horizontally, swam breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke, dived and tried to overcome obstacles underwater and then above water. During swimming, adverse conditions that could occur in real open water bodies were simulated. For example, a rushing stream of water, darkness, and others. All tasks were performed without swimming goggles and caps, some with outerwear.
Another program aimed at reducing drowning in the long term was presented at the event - a guide for parents "How to teach a child to swim?". This free video will help in the future to teach children the elements of swimming without fear, which will give them not only new abilities to enjoy the water, but also prevent painful accidents. The guide for parents is scheduled to appear and be freely available online from today. m. beginning of May.
The Lithuanian Children and Youth Center has been actively seeking to reduce drowning in the country for many years. For that purpose, the campaign "Are you swimming?" is also organized every year, where students are invited to assess their swimming skills together with the coach and understand their level of swimming ability. This year, the promotion will take place on May 7. – June 19, in the participating pools throughout Lithuania. In addition, together with other organizations, they organize a preventive lecture on safe behavior in water and near water bodies "Be careful in the water - you don't fish, but only a person!".
More information: www.lvjc.lt/plaukimo-programos-mokykloms
