Taking supervised adventure could save your child’s life
Local adventure sports coach Keirron Tastagh, from St Johns,
returned from London last week with a clear vision to share with decision
makers on the Island.
“About 400 people drown and a further 200 take their own
lives in our waters in the UK every year; that equates to one accidental
drowning every 20 hours. Activities in and around water are safer now than
ever, but 44% of drowning fatalities happen to people who had no intention of entering
the water.” David Walker, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Educating young people to take risks responsibly (make
informed decisions) through coastal water experiences, is integral to the UK
National Strategy for Drowning Prevention. Keirron was invited to the House of
Commons by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), as the representative of the
Coasteering industry, in his role of Secretary of the National CoasteeringCharter (NCC).
“Evidence suggests a
concept of real risk management (progressive exposure to real risk) has a
long-term positive affect on people’s perspective, and ultimately their
actions.”
Coasteering on the Isle of Man
“The skillsets of the
UK’s Coasteering leaders have been recognised by the National Water Safety
Forum, which is itself a huge accolade. Furthermore, participation in
professionally led Coasteering journeys (by NCC members) has been identified as
a solution to people’s lack of real risk management experience. A practical
realistic prevention of future drowning risk.”
The launch at the House of Commons last Monday, was sponsored
by Robert Goodwill
MP, Minister of State for Transport, who gave his and the UK governments
absolute support and backing to the strategy.
Dr David Meddings (WHO) speaks at the House of Commons launch - credit NWSF
Dr
David Meddings, World Health Organization (WHO), based in Geneva, spoke about his
pleasure in seeing the UK put together such a robust strategy. The World Health
Organisation has called for all nations to have a drowning prevention strategy,
and has provided advice and support to make it happen.
Guests
included chiefs from the RNLI, HM Coastguard, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Chief Fire Officers Association, Royal
Life Saving Society (RLSS), and activity bodies such as British Canoeing,
National Coasteering Charter (NCC) and the Amateur Swimming Association, who
have all agreed to share experience and resources to prevent drowning.
Chair of the
National Water Safety Forum, George Rawlinson, highlighted the need for shared vision
and action by ‘making the National Strategy a local priority’ (respect
and understanding of water).
The first of 5 priority targets is:
· Every child should have
the opportunity to learn to swim and receive water safety education at primary
school and where required at Key Stage 3.
This priority has already been piloted by members of the
NWSF, on the Island. Last August, a partnership between the RNLI and the ASA,
saw lifeguards from Western Swimming Pool undertake their RLSS Beach Lifeguard
Award, before running the ‘Swim Safe’
open water safety sessions in Peel for 192 youngsters. There are plans to
expand the program this summer.
"Broadly speaking, misinterpretation of Health and Safety has
meant that risk aversion became a running theme though both health and
education systems. In a nutshell, a common solution to people’s lack of risk
management experience, is to prevent them taking risks (legislation over
education). The escalating cost of which is unsustainable.”
Keirron explained that detailed and close communication
between safety bodies, (through the NWSF) and analysis of the facts, have
driven a fresh approach to safety and drowning prevention in the UK. Combined
with this, long-term partnerships with organisations such as the NCC (sharing
knowledge) has considerably lowered their industry risk profile.
“People’s mental and physical health benefit from outdoor
exercise. Where that exercise involves real challenge, (risk is an element of
challenge) prevention of harm is facilitated by those with appropriate
experience. By guiding people through progressively increasing challenge,
combined with skilful coaching, participants learn that risk aversion is ‘one’
of their options. Experiencing challenge in this way allows participants to
start making informed decisions themselves, (real risk management).”
The well-publicised,
professionally led activity of Coasteering is the epitome of this learning
process. Keirron’s company Adventurous Experiences has been running experiences
and long-term programs on the Isle of Man for nearly 12 years.
“I chose two great activities, sea kayaking and coasteering
to achieve my business vision, back in 2004. Over time, with a terrific team
behind me, the developmental components of regular exposure to adventure,
challenge and associated risk have led to our programs receiving international
acclaim, and invitations to speak at conferences in the UK and overseas. I’m
absolutely delighted to be part of this shared vision of evidence driven
decision making.”
To pledge your support;
http://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/strategy/
Key message
Through increased activity, we will have an impact on health, physical
(obesity) conditions, mental health, and drowning prevention.
"What was greatly
refreshing to hear is the approach is to get more people in the water, not
preventing activity or increasing legislation." Keirron Tastagh
The NCC committee has
representatives from every Coasteering region in the UK, (all of whom are
current providers) who meet to discuss ideas, incidents and solutions, and then
share this considered good practice back out to regions. Regions (such as the
Isle of Man) host seminars before and after the peak coasteering season, where
all current providers train together and share ideas.
There are situations where
Health and Safety has been misinterpreted, resulting in the loss of essential
outdoor play by young people. The Isle of Man is well placed to make best use
of its excellent opportunities to access water in a natural setting. With so
much water around us, it is essential that people learn how to use it, and
progressively build the transferable skill of real risk management.
an understanding of Risk
Benefit Analysis
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