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CareforKids.com.au November 13, 2013
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Don't be complacent about water safety
Make sure the whole family is swim safe this summer
water-safetyIt's that time of year again when the weather's starting to heat up, summer holidays are around the corner and we're all looking forward to summer on the beach and by the pool.

There has been an alarming rise in the number of very young Australians drowning over the last year and authorities are at a loss to explain why.

According to the latest drowning statistics, 31 babies and toddlers under the age of five drowned in waterways, pools and bathtubs in Australia over the last year. That's a 50 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

Simon Santow of the ABC recently reported that for the Royal Life Saving Society the annual drowning figures are "a sobering reminder about the risks Australians take in and around water".

In his recent interview with Simon Santow, Justin Scarr, CEO of the Royal Life Saving Society said that people assume that the majority of drownings happen in a beach location and that's not the case.

"We see 34 per cent of drowning deaths happening in inland waterways, so our lakes, rivers and dams are largely unpatrolled and we're seeing large numbers of drownings".

For reasons the authorities cannot fathom this represents a 50% increase from the previous year, although with pool fencing legislation and other measures including a compulsory swimming register introduced this year in NSW, Scarr says they are hoping that numbers of drownings will go back to the previous trend which was a steady drop over the last ten years.

However, Scarr says that it's primarily up to pool owners to ensure that they understand the responsibilities of adult supervision, educate the family members to make sure they're also aware of the dangers of propping pool gates open and allowing access for the very young children into those backyard swimming pools.

In the summertime it's very easy to get a little complacent. Hot snoozy days out on the beach or in the back garden near the pool, parties or guests, lots of distractions. But even the tiniest lapse in vigilance can be fatal, especially when it comes to small children who are not yet proficient or confident swimmers.

Toddlers and young children are most at risk from drowning and near drowning incidents: 30 per cent of drowning cases were children under four years old, who made up 63 per cent of drowning incidents in swimming pools.

There's no substitute for parent vigilance and of course no child should be left unattended in any pool or sea, but water confidence and awareness of the dangers of water can go a long way to preventing accidents and drownings in backyard pools and the sea.

Do you know the signs of drowning?

It's also well documented that toddlers simply let themselves drown. So it's imperative that all family members and friends know what to look out for in terms of knowing when someone is in danger.

Readers Digest recently published the following 8 Quiet Signs of Someone Drowning:
  1. A drowning person can't call for help - they have to be able to breathe before they can speak. When a person is drowning, their mouth sinks below and reappears above the surface of the water. There isn't time for them to exhale, inhale, and call out.
  2. They can't wave for help either. A drowning person instinctively extends their arms to the sides and presses down to lift their mouth out of the water; a child may extend their arms forward. They can't use their arms to move toward a rescuer or reach for rescue equipment.
  3. A drowning person remains upright in the water, with no evidence of kicking. They can struggle for only 20 to 60 seconds before going under.
  4. Eyes are glassy, unable to focus, or closed.
  5. Hair may be over forehead or eyes.
  6. Head is low in the water, with mouth at water level; head may be tilted back with mouth open. A child's head may fall forward.
  7. Sometimes the most important indicator that someone is drowning is that they don't look like they are drowning. They may just seem to be looking up at the sky, shore, pool deck, or dock. Ask them, "Are you all right?" If they can answer at all, they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them.
  8. Children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you need to get to them and find out why.
It's vital that kids are taught to swim at an early age; wear appropriate swim aids in the water that enable them to move freely and learn strokes properly; and that they receive education in water safety from parents, carers or swimming instructors or other professionals.

Most preschools and child care services usually have some sort of program or lessons on water safety for young children. It goes hand in hand in Australia with road safety and stranger danger.

If your centre doesn't have a scheduled program or lessons in water safety – put that in the suggestion box. It's easy to organize with one of the local representatives of Austswim, Surf Life Saving or even a local swimming instructor.

Top Tips for Pool & Beach Safety
  1. Simply NEVER leave your young children in a pool or near water of any kind unattended. Always make sure if you have to pop inside for any reason, that someone else is watching the children.
  2. NEVER prop open pool gates. This is hugely dangerous.
  3. MAKE SURE YOUR POOL GATES WORK PROPERLY. They should self-shut easily and quickly. No time for little people to sneak in unwatched.
  4. TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS and make sure their pools are also secure and pool gates work properly. Many pool deaths actually occur in neighbours' pools, not those of the families involved.
  5. Always ensure young children are wearing floatation device whenever they are around any type of water, whether pond, river, pool or open sea.
  6. It's never too early to learn to swim. Get your children swim safe as early as possible.
  7. Teach children how to look out for each other and know how to raise the alarm if they think one of their friends is in trouble.

Go to www.austswim.com.au to find your nearest teacher or aquatic facility. For more information on swim safety go to: www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/swimandsurvive/
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