10 Things To Help Prevent Drowning
According to the Royal Lifesaving Australia Drowning report 2021, 25 children ages 0-4 and 14 children aged 5-14 years old. The number of children aged 0-4 were a 108% increase from 2019/2020.
Drowning is the third most common cause of death in children aged 1-14. Children drown quickly and quietly it only takes 20seconds in as little as 1-2cms of water. Near drownings can lead to permanent disability. 1–2-year-olds are particularly at risk as they are starting to be inquisitive and explore their surroundings. The most common locations were swimming pools, bathtubs, spas, lakes, dams, and rivers.
Water safety is extremely important especially in a country with lots of beaches swimming pools etc. Prevention and high vigilance are the key to water safety. It requires parents and cares to have constant active supervision. This means being present inside of the pool fence when your children are swimming and not on the other side chatting by a BBQ or scrolling on our phones.
The main things we can do as parents and careers are
1. Restrict access to water
2. Never take eyes off them
3. Children under five need to be in arm’s length of an adult
4. Never leave children unattended in the bath
5. Do not be on phones whilst supervising
6. Ensure all pools and ponds are appropriately fenced
7. Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches
8. Increase water awareness with your child and family members (do not be afraid to speak your mind with friends and family I know lots of families that only become vocal once a near drowning has occurred)
9. Use age-appropriate floatation devises
10. If your child goes missing at home for whatever reason check the water first.
Knowing what to do in an emergency could save your child’s life.