Being alert around pool can save a child from drowning
I ASK all readers to take the greatest of care when children are in or around water.
Royal Life Saving’s latest campaign “Keep Watch” urges all parents not to be complacent about their child’s safety around water.
Our latest research shows that 461 children under the age of five have died in Australia over the past 15 years by drowning. Of these, half the drownings were in home pools or spas.
In 100 per cent of child drowning cases in home swimming pools, active adult supervision had either lapsed or was entirely absent.
Water is only safe when you are watching.
Distractions like answering the phone, attending to another child or going inside briefly to grab something can have tragic consequences if a toddler is left unattended by the water.
An average of 31 children drown every year.
For every toddler’s drowning, approximately 10 children are admitted to hospital as a result of neardrowning.
Drowning is preventable. We ask all readers to follow the four Keep Watch key actions to prevent toddler drowning: always actively supervise all children around water, regularly check and maintain your pool fence and gate, teach children water awareness and learn CPR.
One recent study showed that in 62 per cent of cases, the child had gained access to the pool area through a faulty fence or gate, or through a gate that had been deliberately propped open.
We stress to readers the importance of regularly checking and maintaining their pool fence and gate to ensure it’s in working order.
We ask all parents to take every precaution when it comes to their child’s safety around water. Readers can obtain tips and resources at keepwatch. com. au.
I wish all readers a happy and safe summer.
JUSTIN SCARR, CEO, Royal Life Saving
Society – Australia