Matthew Strange likes to compare fire with water.

Most of his professional life has been spent working at public pools, and his weekends over summer often involve long sessions at the beach with his local surf lifesaving club.

Matt loves the water and all that it offers. He's also extremely aware of what can go wrong.

“As a family or household, you probably know what to do when it comes to fire safety, but what about water safety?” said Strtange.

“You probably have smoke alarms installed at home, a fire extinguisher, an evacuation plan. Well, you need that same level of family preparedness when it comes to the unforeseen risks associated with water.”

According to Water Safety New Zealand, there were 90 fatal drownings across the country last year. Of those, 75 were males, and 75 were 24 years or older.

“It’s not just kids who need to learn about water safety, it’s everyone,” said Strange.

“Whether you're enjoying a day at the beach, or you’re out on the boat, it's crucial for every member of your family to know how to stay safe and how to respond, as a group, if someone finds themself in trouble. Everyone plays a role in a situation like that, so why not practise as a family unit.”

Last year saw a concerning rise in the number of drowning deaths occurring from unintentional slips and falls, according to Water Safety New Zealand.

Strange said most people know that learning to swim is an essential life skill in New Zealand, but so is learning how to float, how to stay safe in and around the water, and how to safely respond if someone else is in need.

“Even if you’re not planning on getting wet, you and your family need to know what to do if something unexpected happens. We all like to think ‘this will never happen to us’ and let's hope that it doesn't. But knowing what to do in a water emergency can save a life. Sometimes the danger isn’t immediately obvious until it’s too late.”

This October school holidays, ahead of the summer season, Baywave Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Mount Maunganui will be holding family water safety workshops.

Family water safety workshops at Baywave will see adults and kids learning alongside each other.

Strange, who is Head of Aquatics at Bay Venues, said the workshops are designed specifically for the whole whānau to take part.  Adults and kids, in the water together, learning alongside each other, working as a team – and having fun at the same time.

The workshops will be run by Tauranga swim school BaySwim and will cover everything from how to spot and navigate rips and currents, to recognising the subtle signs of drowning and how to differentiate them from normal water play.

Families will also learn what to do if someone falls into the water unexpectedly, how to signal for help and perform dry land rescues, how to correctly fit a life jacket, as well as other boat safety skills.

The workshops, which are being supported by Apollo Projects, will be one and half hours long and will be held in the deep-water pool at Baywave.

“I love how Kiwi summers revolve around the water, it’s my favourite time of year and it’s almost here.

“The weather is warming up and that means the beach is beckoning, and so is your favourite river, lake, or pool. This summer, before you head out, before you tell the kids to put their togs on, put a plan in place and practise it to keep your family safe. Make every splash a safe one.”

The family water safety workshops at Baywave will be held on Friday, October 4, Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10. For more information and to book, please visit taurangapools.co.nz.