With the days getting hotter, now is the time to have fun in and around the water, here are ten tips to stay safe this summer.
1 Water is a hazard
The most obvious tip is understanding that water is a hazard. Tragically The Royal Lifesaving National Drowning Report recorded 323 deaths last year a 16% increase on the ten-year average.
Every drowning is a tragedy, and most can be prevented.
2 Check the water first
The majority of children under five who drown in Australia do so by falling into water, most in baths and pools.
If your child is missing, or unusually silent, check these places first. Every second counts.
3 Ensure your pool is as safe as possible
So often babies and toddlers go exploring and find their way into a pool when they should have had no chance to do so. Be it a fence in disrepair, a gate propped open, climbing on foliage or using a chair. Things can happen so quickly with devastating results.
Check your pool fence, ensure it is in good working order and that all legal guidelines are met so that you can keep children safe!
Every pool must also have a sign that includes details of resuscitation (CPR) which can be read from 3 meters. Learning CPR could save a life.
4 Our next of our ten tips to stay safe this summer is learn to swim
One of the best ways to stay safe in the water is learning how to swim. Swimming lessons save lives. Even toddlers can learn vital safety skills that can be the difference between life and death.
Sadly, more than 40% of children leaving primary school can’t swim 50metres. Not that 50 metres is enough. If a child can only just make 50 metres in a controlled environment like a swimming pool, they are not safe to be swimming at the beach. Find out more here
5 Don’t take risks
There has been an increase in drownings in young people between the ages of 10 to 20. In many cases risk taking behaviour has played a part. The basics all still hold. Respect the surf, swim between the flags, never swim against a rip, let it take you and then swim across the beach out of the rip before attempting to return. Or continue to single for help from lifesavers. Don’t swim at beaches that are not patrolled.
6 Alcohol and water don’t mix
Sadly, drugs and alcohol often play a part in drownings. To stay safe this summer, stay sober around the water.
7 Supervision
Yes, while a pool fence and signage are crucial steps in creating a safer pool environment at home, let’s not forget about the importance of adult supervision.
Supervision is key. If children are playing in and around the water then you need to be alert and watching at all times, especially avoiding distractions like mobile phones.
If toddlers are in the water, you should be in with them and within arms reach.
8 Life jackets save lives
If you are boating or kayaking, make sure you and your children are wearing complying life jackets. They saves lives.
9 Never swim or surf alone
The risk of a tragedy increases if you swim or surf on your own. To stay safe this summer make surf you and your children have people with them when they are enjoying the water.
10 Don’t be complacent
The final of our ten tips to stay safe this summer is don’t be complacent, it is not enough to know your child can swim.
Swimming lessons are the most important step in preventing your child from drowning, but they are just the beginning.
For children aged 5-14, swimming recreationally is currently the leading activity occurring prior to drowning, above falling, boating and diving.
Bottom line, there is a stark difference between being able to swim, and being able to swim well. The fact is great technique can save a life. The better you swim, the longer you can do it without getting tired.
Legendary Swimming coach Forbes Carlile
As Forbes Carlile said “a child isn’t ready to move on from swimming until they can swim 400m with good technique”.
As the days get longer and the sun gets stronger, lets all do everything we can to keep our children safe.
