Paramedics, lifesavers plead with families and swimmers to stay safe, warn about ‘inflatables’

Gold Coast paramedics have pleaded with swimmers to heed warnings about water safety after responding to a spate of near-drownings, and two related deaths in just over a fortnight.SEE THEIR TOP TIPS TO STAY SAFE

Gold Coast paramedics have pleaded with swimmers to heed warnings about water safety after responding to a spate of near-drownings, and two related deaths in just over a fortnight.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Will Houghton said paramedics were being called to more “post immersion” incidents at beaches, waterways and pools, compared to the same time last year.

“We are seeing an increased number of drownings and near drownings on the Gold Coast for this time of year,” he said.

An Alexandra Headland team flies high during the Queensland IRB (inflatable rescue boat) Championships on the Gold Coast.

“Since December we’ve had 23 drownings or near drownings compared to 17 last December.

“In the last 16 days we’ve responded to 16 and unfortunately two of those have not been successful.

“The message around waterways is look after your mates, stay in a patrolled area with supervision and try to nominate a supervisor,”

Mr Houghton could not say what was behind the increase. He said there was a trend of interstate travellers and young men being involved in incidents.

“A lot of them seem to be interstate people as well. Maybe they’re not used to the beaches and the tides and rips.

“The similarities we’ve seen the last few days is that they’re all young males.

“It’s been parties of males swimming together, whether it be early in the morning or late at night.

Surf Lifesavers on Burleigh Heads beach. In the last 16 days there’s been 16 drowning incidents on the Gold Coast. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“We’re not sure if alcohol has been involved but the message is if someone has been drinking avoid swimming.”

QAS senior operations supervisor Grace Elliott echoed her colleague’s message and said 100 extra paramedics and supervisors were rostered on for New Year’s Eve-related incidents.

“We (saw) a number of incidents in line with intoxication, assaults, falls, that sort of thing,” she said.

“We would really like to ask everyone to be mindful and vigilant of everyone in and around the water during this holiday period. We have seen an increase in these types of incidents over the past few days and we don’t want it to continue.”

The stern words from paramedics comes after a Victorian man drowned in a Broadbeach canal Tuesday morning and a teenage boy survived a near drowning on Wednesday morning in the Gold Coast seaway.

Keep inflatables in pools not the beach

In December 2019 and January 2020 surf lifesavers and lifeguards rescued nine people on inflatable devices and cautioned countless others.

Lifesaving Services Manager Peta Lawlor said inflatables should not be used in open water.

“Inflatables are great to use at home in the pool, but at the beach and in creeks there are a range of conditions to contend with,” she said.

“In tidal creeks like Tallebudgera and Currumbin we see people being swept out to sea on their inflatables in strong outgoing tides.

In December 2019 and January 2020 surf lifesavers and lifeguards rescued nine people on inflatable devices and cautioned countless others. Picture Glenn Hampson

“While at the beach people often get into trouble in the waves as they cannot negotiate them easily while wearing or laying on a floatie.”

Ms Lawlor said the use of inflatables to assist weak swimmers to stay afloat, including kids, needs to stop.

“Weak swimmers often try to use inflatables in the surf as a flotation device but they just provide them with a false sense of security,” she said.

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“A wave may cause them to lose grip of the floatie and they panic immediately which is when lifesavers have to spring into action.

“Alarmingly we also see parents using inflatable rings to hold children afloat, but they can easily slip out of the ring and find themselves in trouble.”

HOW TO STAY SAFE AT THE BEACH

1 – Swim between the flags: Lifeguards and lifesavers know the unique characteristics of their beaches. Let them ensure you swim in the safest possible spot. This is especially critical between Miami and The Spit.

2 – Don’t swim at dawn or dusk: Ensure you only enter the water during patrolled times at a patrolled beach.

3 – Don’t be fooled by calm waters between breaking waves: That can be the worst place to swim – it often indicates a rip. The waves can’t break because of a hole between sandbanks and it creates a passage for water to rush out to sea.

4 – The presence of surfers doesn’t mean you’re safe: They are not keeping an eye on you. They’ll help if they see you in trouble but if you’re in the water, they are right to assume you can look after yourself.

5 – Educate yourself: Find where the nearest patrolled beach is. Learn to identify a rip. Volunteer to be a lifesaver. Visit www.lifesaving.com.au

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