Water Safety Tips

Summer's on its way and as tradition dictates, Aussies young and old will get out the sunblock, sluggos and sandtoys as they prepare to spend another balmy summer at the beach or by the pool.  

According to Royal Lifesaving Society Australia, approximately two Australian children drown every week.  Most are under 5 years of age and of these, about half drown in domestic swimming pools.  The children at greatest risk are toddlers, aged 1 - 3 and for them, drowning is the single most common cause of death.  Bathtubs are the main location of drowning deaths of children under the age of one.

We want to be sure that your children only experience summer's virtues, so we suggest the following water safety tips... 

The best protection you can give your children is to enrol them in swimming lessons.  AUSTSWIM, the Australian Council for Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety, recommends that children take part in aquatic activities from the age of 6 months.  Not only will they eventually learn the skills necessary to swim, they will first learn confidence in the water, which is critical to their safety.   It is also a good idea for parents and guardians to be knowledgeable in basic resuscitation techniques.  St. John Ambulance Australia and Red Cross Australia both offer nationally available first aid courses.   Never leave a child under 12 to supervise another child.  Children should always be supervised by an adult who knows how to swim and that adult should always maintain visual contact with the child/children in the water.

• Remember that inflatable toys are not life saving devices and should not be relied on to keep your child safe.
  
• Always go into the water with young children at beaches and other outdoor bodies of water.  They can often have strong currents, rips and deep holes, which pose hidden dangers.
  
• Ordinary nappies should not be worn in the water as they are unhygienic and can also weigh the child down.  If your child is not potty trained, special swimming nappies can be found in most local supermarkets.
  
• In Australia, swimming pools must be surrounded by a childproof fence conforming with Australian Standard 1926.  State/Territory and local government regulations do vary, so check with your local council to ensure that you are in compliance.  Also, be sure that there is nothing next to the fence that would enable a child to climb over.  
• A child can drown in only 5 cm of water, so danger is not limited to pools and beaches.   Remember to empty bathtubs, nappy buckets and keep the lid down on the toilet seat.
  
• Don’t assume that pools aren’t dangerous in autumn or winter.  Never leave children unattended near them as they can just as easily slip into a covered pool. 
  
• According to Kidsafe NSW, in an emergency, you should take the injured child to the phone when you dial '000'.  The trained operator at the Ambulance Service will give you emergency instructions over the phone.  

Click here to find an AUSTSWIM swim school in your area

For more tips on safety in the water, click here.