New water safety magazine launched at Cornafulla NS

Sixth class pupils at Cornafulla National School have come up with the title for a new magazine designed to promote water safety among children. Irish Water Safety representatives - including a Cornafulla NS past pupil, Tracy Harney - visited the school this week to distribute copies of the new magazine, which the pupils have named: "Aqua Attack." The Irish Water Safety organisation is encouraging as many teachers and schools as possible to participate in the National PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) Programme. PAWS was developed in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science in 2004 when Aquatics was introduced into the Primary School Physical Education Curriculum. By completing the PAWS Programme, pupils develop their water safety awareness, their swimming skills, survival skills and basic rescue techniques. According to Irish Water Safety, 16 children aged 14 and under have drowned in Ireland in the last five years. 'It is therefore vitally important that children form the proper attitudes to water safety at an early age so that they act safely around water as adults. The promotion of the PAWS Programme is helping in this regard,' said Ms Harney. 'The programme will raise children"s water safety awareness and will help reduce the number of tragic fatalities due to drowning.'