Families in Sunbury will have the chance to learn life-saving skills this week as Aqua Schools launches its CPR Teddy Bear Challenge – running from Monday 30 June to Friday 6 July.
The initiative is designed to introduce parents and children to basic CPR in a fun and practical way. Participants attending its Kurrle Rd pool can follow self-paced video instructions before or after swim lessons, with children encouraged to bring a favourite teddy bear to practise on.
The initiative aims to reach up to 1,400 children and their families during the week, with Aqua Schools stating just one in four parents refresh their CPR skills each year.
In 2024, 15 children aged under five drowned in Australia. Nearly 70% of those incidents occurred in home settings such as pools and bathtubs, highlighting the importance of emergency readiness.
Estela Micallef, centre manager at Aqua Schools Sunbury says the event is a way to build confidence in both children and adults.
“We often underestimate what kids can learn, but with the right approach, they can retain powerful, potentially life-saving knowledge,” she says.
“Knowing what to do in a crisis – even if it’s just recognising an emergency and calling for help, or performing basic compressions – can be incredibly empowering for a child.
“Every second counts in a crisis, and even imperfect CPR is better than no action at all.”
