Bid to tackle high number of drownings

THIS year saw a shocking 48 per cent jump in drowning deaths of children under the age of five, with 31 losing their lives from July 2012 to June 2013, up from 21 the year before.

According to the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s 2013 National Drowning Report, it is the first increase since 2009, but a 6 per cent reduction on the 10-year average of 33 deaths.

In October, two-year-old toddler Levi White drowned in his family’s backyard pool at Southport, 70km southeast of Darwin.

The statistics have prompted a new initiative aimed at stopping the growing number, with EnergyAustralia and Swim Australia teaming up to launch EnergyAustralia SwimSAFER week tomorrow.

It is designed to educate the public about what they can do to prevent drowning.

More than 300 swim schools, including three in the NT, will participate.