Matthew Strange likes to compare fire with water.

Strange is the head of aquatics at Bay Venues. 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.

Strange 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,” Strange said.

“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 or older.

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

“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 respond, as a group, if someone finds themselves 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.

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

“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,’ Let’s hope 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, before the summer season, Baywave Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Mount Maunganui will hold family water safety workshops.

The workshops and cover everything from spotting and navigating 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, correctly fit a life jacket and other boat safety skills.