Members of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) show off some of their new aquatics equipment they recently received from world renowned marathon swimmer Bruckner Chase. According to head of the ASAA Zero Iaulualo (far left), the equipment consists of a rescue board, 2 rescue cans, lifeguard whistles and four life buoys.

The equipment is to be used for the training of the candidates for the upcoming Toa O le Tai (Water Heroes) program that will be starting on January 7, 2012.

"Right after Bruckner Chase returns this coming January 5, the Toa O le Tai program will begin two days later on the 7th," said Iaulualo. "But before then, the ASAA will be having an Awareness Swim' to raise ‘Awareness of Our Ocean, Ocean Conservation and Water Safety,' on the last day of the year, December 31st. It will be a swim from Aua to Utulei Beach park and will consist of approximately 1 1/4 miles and will begin at 9:00 a.m."

"Right now the swimmers in this swim will be myself, Diana Pulu who is only 12 years old, Christina Pulu, Unitedtete (Nicky) Pulu and Charles Miller. They have trained for quite a while now for this. They just didn't jump into the water and start swimming. I made sure that they are and will be ready that day. If anybody out there ‘can swim' and is at least 12 years old and would like to make this swim with us, come down to Utulei Beach on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m... But do it by next Friday the 25th. This is going to be a big event on the 31st of December."

"If you cannot swim at all and are at least 8 years old and up, come to the Utulei Beach on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to learn how," he said.

During the swim on December 31, there will also be a demonstration on how you can eat and drink while making long swims or out in the open water.