Don't Leave Your Common Sense Behind - Safe Summer 2006/07

Wise Up To The Water - Water safety is about common sense but for some reason many seem to leave it behind when it comes to dealing with water.

The provisional drowning toll for 2006 shows a record low, hitting double figures for the first time ever and the Auckland region is one that has continued to show a decline. But one can't rest on ones laurels so in a regional partership WaterSafe Auckland (WAI) embarks on another Safe Summer campaign.

'Don't leave your common sense behind' is another creative brainchild of Young & Rubicam (Y&R), WAI's pro bono advertising agency, and includes a number of creatives designed to stimulate discussion, encourage further behavioural change and continue that downward trend.

WAI wants everyone to enjoy the water, but use their common sense and reminds them to think about:

1. Adult supervision of children near water
2. Learning to swim
3. Swimming between the flags at patrolled beaches
4. Wearing a lifejacket, checking the conditions, and carrying communication if boating or rockfishing

Within the campaign the community is being bomarded with these messages from a variety of fronts: from bus sides, to boat ramps, billboards, print media, and radio, supported by the Safe Summer Team presence at events across the region.

WAI thanks all their Safe Summer partners: the regional Territorial Authorities, ARC, ACC, Surf Life Saving Northern Region, Swimming NZ, Maritime NZ, and Coastguard Northern Region for their continued participation in the Safe Summer projects and intiatives. Their support ensures that this regional approach is working to meet the vision of the Drowning Prevention Strategy - a safe NZ free from drowning.

For further information on WAI's Safe Summer projects contact:

Barbara Venville - Regional Promotions

barbara.venville@watersafe.org.nz

027 5233 253

Sandy Harrop - Executive Officer

sandy.harrop@watersafe.org.nz

027 271 5781