Safety class: Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and crew to land at Deanmore Primary School

Students at Deanmore Primary School in Karrinyup, will today learn about how to keep safe at Western Australia’s beaches, as they meet the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew who patrol our coastline.

Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service provides a vital free community service to West Australians each year, carrying out search and rescue missions, beach patrols and aerial surveillance, operating from its bases at Fremantle and Busselton.

Adam Hay, Westpac Regional General Manager, West Pilbara, says in bringing the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter to Deanmore Primary School, the crew who dedicate their lives to helping others in the community when they need it most, will provide important safety tips and advice on beach safety.

“The chopper will land on the school’s oval and students will then participate in a fun and interactive session with the WA Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew, learning about how to avoid getting into danger, staying safe during an emergency, rescues and beach patrols.

“The students will experience a rare close-up look at the chopper and see demonstrations by the crew, of the state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment they use during emergency rescues.

“Westpac is proud to support the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service and play an important role in helping to educate young West Australians about our local emergency services.“

In Western Australia, coastal and ocean drowning deaths are currently up 127% compared to this time last year, with 25 fatalities.

So far this season, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter services in WA have conducted 665 patrols over 943 hours.

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew member Tim Gleeson says today is all about delivering important water safety messages to local primary school children.

“It’s an essential lifesaving skill for kids to be equipped with the knowledge of how to stay safe at the beach while enjoying themselves, and also to understand what to do during an emergency.

“Students are always very excited to see the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter land at their school and they often have many questions for us, as we show first-hand how we conduct aerial patrols along WA’s coastline. “

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service has been helping West Australians for the past 12 years. The service is operational every patrol season from September until April patrolling from Mandurah to Yanchep and east to Rottnest Island and between Bunbury and Hamelin Bay.

Students can also access the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Schools Program app, which provides fun and engaging digital educational activities. For more information visit: westpac.com.au/Rescue

Media contact: Jemima Hickman, The Message Bureau 0419 754 564 or jemima@themessagebureau.com.au