Don't take water safety lightly, urged the The National Water Safety Council (NWSC) as it recalled last month's drowning of Singapore Management University sailor Mr Levin Angsana.

Non-swimmers should start acquiring water survival skills before participating in water sports, it advised.

"In a controlled environment where waters are calm, non-swimmers participating in water sports can be lulled into a false sense of security," observed Dr Teo Ho Pin, Chairman of the NWSC.

"They might not be aware of the inherent dangers in a different or more volatile environment.

"It is thus necessary for all participants of water sports to possess swimming and water survival skills, as a safeguard against drowning," he added

To allow children to get a headstart in acquiring water safety skills, the NWSC is currently working on integrating the existing Learn-to-Swim programme and the National Survival Swimming Awards into a national framework.

Consultants for this integrated scheme include the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (RLS) and Singapore Life
Saving Society (SLSS).

The scheme is expected to be rolled out in early 2009.