Water safety reminder as weather warms up

Parents are reminded to follow important safety tips when taking kids to the beach, rivers, lakes, and backyard pools this summer.

“As summer heats up, families will be looking to cool down and water is the perfect solution. However, it’s important parents don’t become complacent about water safety. Kids drown without a sound, and it can happen in as little as 20 seconds, so you really need to be supervising at all times,” said AMA (NSW) President, Dr Michael Bonning.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for children under five years in Australia. The Royal Life Saving Australia’s National Drowning Report shows that 25 children aged 0-4 years drowned in 2020-21 – a 108 per cent increase on the previous year.

For every child who died from drowning in Australia, there were 8 non-fatal drowning incidents among children aged 0-4 years – the highest fatal to non-fatal drowning ratio of any age group. Non-fatal drowning incidents can result in severe brain damage.

More than half (52%) of drowning deaths occur in swimming pools in Australia.

“Accidents happen most when parents are distracted. A child can easily drown in the time it takes to sign for a parcel or take something out of the oven,” Dr Bonning said.

Research from 2019 found indoor household chores, such as ironing and cooking, were a factor in almost one in three child drownings (28%), while outdoor chores such as washing were a factor in 13% of cases. Talking, socialising, and playing with mobile phones were contributing causes in 21% of cases.

“Life is busy but getting through your to-do list is just not worth the risk.” Dr Bonning said.

As Christmas nears, many families and friends will gather for social events by the backyard pool and it’s important to not let socialising distract you from watching the kids.

“Never assume that just because lots of adults are around the pool and there are other kids playing, that your child is safe.

“There is no substitution for adult supervision. Some groups take turns being the designated ‘lifeguard’ and even have a special hat or vest, so everyone knows who’s on duty at the time. Whatever approach you take, make sure children are supervised closely and within arms’ reach,” Dr Bonning said.

Children should be taught water safety from a young age. Many can learn to swim by the time they are four or five years old.

Most drownings occur in pools and bathtubs, but a child can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and there have been fatal drowning cases in shallow ponds, buckets, and pet bowls.

“Contrary to popular belief, most people don’t cry for help – it can happen quickly and silently.

“It’s also a good idea to brush up on your first aid and CPR. Knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between life and death. Putting signs up around your pool with instructions is a good reference as well,” Dr Bonning said.

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