PBL Project - Water Safety

PBL Project
Water Safety

Group: CCBJ
Group Members: Myself, Claudia, Brandon, Jamie.
Topic: Water Safety.

Websites: 

Website Name	Link	Date we accessed site
Water Safety New Zealand	http://www.watersafety.org.nz/	14/11/17
Drowning Prevention	http://www.watersafe.org.nz/family-communities/research-and-information/statistics-overview/	14/11/17
Drown Base	http://www.drownbase.org.nz/annual-statistics/	14/11/17
Water Safety NZ	http://www.watersafety.org.nz/assets/Drowning-Reports/2016-Provisional-Drowning-Prevention-Report-13Jan2017.pdf	14/11/17
Teens Health - Water Safety	http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/water-safety.html	14/11/17

Why we chose this topic:

Water safety is a big issue in New Zealand as well as the world. So many drownings have been recorded other the years because so many people have no water safety skills. This years drowning toll (as of Nov. 13) is at 59, in 2016 there were 108, in 2015 there were 113, in 2014 there were 71, and in 2013 there were 107. We want to make kids aware of the problem and teach them some skills while also having fun.

Who is affected?
In the first half of 2017, there were 47 drownings in New Zealand. 10% of those were kids under 5, 18% was 15-24 year olds, and 71% was 25+. 84% were males. Males above 25 years have been involved in the most drownings.

What are the issues?

Because young and old these days don’t have enough water safety knowledge, drownings are becoming more and more common. People are going out to the beach, rivers, and swimming pools with no safety knowledge, and are being put in situations that they don’t know how to handle.

When and how did this start?

Drowning has always been a huge problem in New Zealand, and we have a higher drowning rate here than Australia, the U.S, and the UK. This years drowning toll (as of Nov. 13) is at 59, in 2016 there were 108, in 2015 there were 113, in 2014 there were 71, and in 2013 there were 107. It doesn’t seem the problem is improving, and it may get worse as the years go on.

Where is it happening?

All over the world drowning has become a huge problem. New Zealand has quite a high rate, as we are an island. The most common places drownings occur are in rivers, beaches, swimming pools, and water holes. The top of the North Island is most susceptible to drownings. The South Island had barely any in the past few years, while the North Island had many.

Why is it happening?

Drownings are becoming more and more frequent because people young and old have no water safety knowledge. While young people occasionally have water safety lessons, they usually cost a bit of money, when they should be part of the school curriculum. Many adults think it isn’t important to know how to swim, so they put it off until it’s too late.

Our big impact action:

We will be planning and executing a fun water safety afternoon at Hornby Primary for the year 5's and 6's, to teach young students how to be water safe, to work in teams, and to have fun.

Our desired impact:

We want young people to be aware of the problem so that they can share it around and try to improve it. We want them to gain some skills so if they are put in a tough situation in water they know how to save themselves and others. We also want to prevent drownings.