Life Saving Victoria held its annual Open Water Learning Experience at Noreuil Park on Monday and Tuesday.

Groups of primary, secondary and home-schooled students took part in five rotating safety sessions in and out of the water.

The activities included awareness information and basic emergency responses as well as using lifejackets, safe body boarding and rescue strategies. 

Life Saving Victoria education team leader Brendan O’Brien said the children were taught safer ways to help a person in the water.

“There's been quite a few drownings where someone has gone to save a friend and they've got into trouble themselves,” he said.

In addition to ropes and rescue tubes, the children were shown the potential of everyday items that floated like coolers, beach balls, noodles and kick boards.

Mr O’Brien said swimming in the Murray River often meant no lifesavers and reduced access to safety equipment. 

“So we're just trying to get them to think outside the box and be a little bit flexible,” he said.

“The last thing we want them to do is go in the water, it's the very last option.”

Some of the secondary students pointed out to instructor Georgia Punton the standard printed warnings about floatation devices not being lifesaving aids.

“If this is the only piece of equipment you've got and you've got a loved one in the water, would you not use it to save someone?” she countered.

Mr O’Brien said the sessions promoted the use of lifejackets, which could be unpopular at times.

“We're just trying to get through to the kids that they're really safe and you can actually have a little bit of fun with them,” he said.

Key river safety messages included never swim alone and look before you leap.

“When people think drownings, people typically think of the surf,” he said.

“There's also a heap of drownings in inland waterways, rivers, dams, lakes.”