About 65 area children learned basic swimming and water-rescue skills at a day-long class organized by Bangkok Hospital Pattaya at the Redemptorist Vocational School’s swimming pool
The kids, ages 8-15, got both classroom and water training May 8 from Navy swim instructor Lt. Sawek Pungbanlung of Abhakorn Kiatiwong Royal Thai Navy Hospital in Sattahip.
Swimming lessons and emergency-response skills are critical to youths during the hot season, when many kids drown across the country.
After spending the morning in the classroom learning proper techniques and first-aid skills, the youths hit the water and learned basic strokes, how to float and conserve energy and other dangers posed by being around the water.
The kids also got first-response training for when someone falls in the water, including rescues and first aid. Poisonous marine life was covered as well as survival skills.