Warning on drownings

WATER safety authorities have a clear message for Tasmanian parents in the lead- up to summer — do not slip away for a moment while children are playing in water.

The warning comes after a fouryear- old boy drowned in southern Tasmania recently.

Police said the boy was found unresponsive in an above- ground pool in the front yard of his home.

Latest data reveals 41 per cent of drowning deaths among children under five are one- year- old toddlers, Royal Life Saving Australia’s chief executive Justin Scarr said.

“Drowning is often quick and silent. It can easily happen while parents are distracted by everyday chores around the home,” Mr Scarr said.

“Any distraction is dangerous and can be very dangerous and can put young children at risk around water. It is never worth taking the risk.”

Research shows over the past 18 years, 507 children aged zero to four years drowned. Of these, 207 — 41 per cent — were aged one year.

He said the risk of drowning tripled as soon as a child started to crawl and it peaked shortly after a child’s first birthday, just as they started to become more mobile.

The statistics prompted Royal Life Saving’s new Keep Watch campaign to remind parents and carers about the risks of children drowning.

He said children were very curious and unpredictable “They love to explore and can disappear in the blink of an eye. Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to,” he said.

Royal Life Saving asks all parents and carers to supervise, restrict, teach and respond to keep children safe. Safety tips include to restrict their access to water with a correctly installed and regularly maintained pool fence, teach water safety skills and know how to respond in an emergency by learning CPR skills.