THREE police officers and a Sofitel resort staff member will form Fiji's first ever team to the World Lifesaving Championships in Adelaide, South Australia later this year.
Called RESCUE 2012, the World Lifesaving Championships will be held from November 3.
And Fiji's attendance in the lifesaving competition is expected to help discussions about drowning prevention strategies to assist Fiji in strategic planning.
Fiji Police Force water safety officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Bronwyn Soko said the drowning toll for this year was extremely high.
"Currently the recorded drowning figure by Fiji Police Force has the toll at 52 for the first eight and a half months this is the higher than the total end of year figure for previous years," ASP Soko said.
"This possibility opens up further developments in drowning prevention awareness and water safety measures.
"We will be promoting Fiji to the competing nations that attend World Lifesaving Championships. By Fiji participating, there are always possibilities of lifesaving training camps and lifesaving competitions that can be held here in the future," ASP Soko said.
"This current drowning toll figure equates to 5/100,000 per capita. Australia's drowning toll per capita is 1.8/100,000.
"The drowning toll for Fiji is extremely high and prevention awareness needs to be promoted," she said.
ASP Soko said the three were picked from trials conducted in August.