Autism Australia: Warning for parents about pool risk

Researchers say parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are putting their lives at risk by not teaching them a “survival skill” which is vital for Gold Coast kids. READ THEIR SERIOUS WARNING

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A ROYAL Life Saving Australia study has revealed children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are three times more likely to drown than their peers — but another study out of the US suggests the risk is 160 times greater.

In its National Drowning Report 2020, the peak water safety body details a study of 667 drowning cases of those aged 0-19 years with a medical history. It found the highest rates of drowning were for children aged 0-4 and that half of all ASD-related drowning deaths were due to an unintentional fall into water.

It suggests adult supervision, barriers to water, and the creation of child safe play areas and concluded that “with the right support and learning environment, people with ASD can learn to swim” and referred parents to Autism Swim.

Parents with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder should immediately get them to swimming lessons, after studies reveal they are at a much higher risk of drowning than their peers. Photo: Gavin Little Photography.

But according to the US study, published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2017, children must be taught to swim immediately after a diagnosis, ahead of any other cognitive therapy.

Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health screened 32 million death certificates to discover children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their peers.

“Given the exceptionally heightened risk of drowning for children with autism, swimming classes should be the intervention of top priority,” said Dr. Li, the founding director of the Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention at Columbia.

“Once a child is diagnosed with autism, usually between 2 years and 3 years of age, paediatricians and parents should immediately help enrol the child in swimming classes, before any behavioural therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy.

“Swimming ability for kids with autism is an imperative survival skill.”

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Swim Instructors Brith McLaren (left) and Wendy Baxter (right) with nine-year-old autistic twins Jasmine and Michael Wilton at their Southport swim school. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Brith McLaren is an Autism Swim approved teacher in Southport. She has about 50 families on her books, ranging in age from 1-15 years. She started on the Gold Coast nearly four years ago but last year asked fellow swim instructor Wendy Baxter to become an Autism Swim provider to help with increased demand for the service.

“Some children are over confident and just go straight to the water and jump in, but that’s when they get in trouble, they have no fear. Being overly confident in the water is not always a great thing, so it’s about teaching them to ask permission to enter the creek, ocean or a friend’s pool,” she said.

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Autism Swim has five places on the Gold Coast where parents can take their children to learn to swim. Photo: Gavin Little Photography.

“Many parents told me they never thought their child would be able to swim, with some kids having mainstream lessons for five years but not getting anywhere. They come to us and within a few weeks they are making progress because we are led by their individual needs.”

Kelly Wilton’s 9-year-old twins Michael and Jasmine, born two months premature, and living with complex intellectual and physical disabilities and ASD, are taught by Mrs McLaren and Mrs Baxter.

Swim Instructors Brith McLaren (left) and Wendy Baxter have taught twins Jasmine and Michael Wilton water safety, and their parents are so confident in their abilities they are now building a pool at their Oxenford home. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“It’s so much more than swimming lessons, it’s about drowning prevention because they are both so high risk as they are naturally drawn to water because it calms them,” she said.

“Before lessons Jasmine was fearful of water and pools, she would scream and hold on to us tightly and not let us know, but after 12 months she’s gone from someone who is confident, she can swim and I know she feels empowered.”

As for Michael, Mrs Wilton said he was the opposite to his sister and had no fear.

“From the minute he could walk he would run into the sea or jump into a pool with no fear, not knowing he was at risk of drowning.

“He now knows he has to ask an adult to open a pool gate or get into water and he’s very good at waiting and learned a lot about safety awareness. I have no doubt it’s saved his life.”

The family is now confident enough to build a pool at their Oxenford house.

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