Press Release
April 26, 2007

Red Cross celebrates Safety Services Month:
First Water Safety Olympics to be Held

In compliance to the celebration of Safety Services Month and of the 60th Anniversary of The Philippine National Red Cross; Safety Services Department on its 3rd Red Cross National First Aid Olympics in celebration of the United Nation Global Road Safety Work will hold the very first Water Safety Olympics on April 26 to 27 in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Pablo Ocampo St., Manila.

Safety Services is one of the service arms of the PNRC task with nationwide educational campaign to ensure the health and safety of the Filipino people. It also encourages physical fitness and practice of skills learned through First Aid Olympics and Swim and Stay-fit programs.

The PNRC Secretary General Corazon Alma G. De Leon states that they want to attain the objective of the theme: Red Cross First Aid and Water Safety Volunteers: Saving Lives without Discrimination. As an archipelago, flood is a common phenomenon in the country. Hence, several major water emergencies/disasters were experienced, water safety knowledge and skills needs to be given importance. We, therefore, agreed to hold for the very first time Water Safety Olympics since the 1st National Safety School was held in 1947 in Iloilo City where Water Safety courses were introduced, she said.

The Olympics are open to all chapters who are interested and have qualified participants (maximum of two swimmers for each event). The team may complete in Throwing Assists: Throw bag, Ring Buoy (2 members); Medley Relay of Carries (Cross-chest, wrist tow, tired swimmers and head - 4 members + 1 victim weighing not less than 110 lbs.); Recovery of submerged victim (1 member); Spine Board Management for water accident victim (4 members + 1 victim weighing not less than 110 lbs.); Individual Medley of swimming-lifesaving strokes: elementary backstroke, sidestroke (heads up), and modified crawl (heads up)- 1 member; Medley Relay of lifesaving-swimming styles with run and entry jump: run-plunge dive elementary backstroke with rescue can run-rescuers jump-modified breaststroke (heads up), and run plunged dive-modified crawl (4 members), and Grabbing (1 member) disrobing and using pants as floating device.

Other competitions to be held are: First Aid Olympics and Miss First Aid Olympics. All teams and team members will receive various awards, and cash prizes will be given to every event category.

Chapters with qualified participants are encouraged to participate this historic water safety Olympics. No registration fees will be collected for the said event.

News Latest News Feed