Rise in swim dramas

MORE than 80 school-aged children were rushed to hospital after non-fatal drownings in Queensland last year.

The shocking figures come as Education Minister Grace Grace prepares to convene a roundtable of educators and water safety experts in the wake of the Bulletin’s Save our Schoolkids campaign.

According to the Queensland Health data 85 schoolaged kids were rushed to hospital across the state last year, up from 54 in 2013.

Queensland Health put the growing number of emergency admissions down to better collection of data but swimming experts fear a generation of kids are growing up not knowing how to swim competently.

The department also points to the higher number of underfour “pool immersions and near-drownings” – 261 across the state last year – as being the biggest area of concern but campaigners say school-aged kids should not be left behind.

The Gold Coast had 19 school-aged immersions and 48 under four years old, while the Sunshine Coast was the school-aged hotspot with 27 immersion victims rushed to hospital, and 33 under four.

Among the voices at tomorrow’s roundtable, Independent Schools Queensland executive director David Robertson said targeted government assistance could help get more kids into lessons.

“Most independent schools provide swimming as part of their educational program or as an extra curricula activity. Targeted government assistance could be provided to those schools that do not have easy access to swimming facilities to assist with transport and lessons costs.”