Royal Life Saving Australia warns adult distraction drowns kids

A LAPSE in adult supervision was the major risk factor in the drownings of almost 1000 Australian children aged under five over the past 25 years, new data has found.

A LAPSE in adult supervision was the major risk factor in the drownings of almost 1000 Australian children aged under five over the past 25 years.

Cautioning parents about the potentially lethal risk of becoming distracted, Life Saving Victoria project co-ordinator Rhiannon Birch said: “It’s just so important to have active supervision.

“Sitting beside the pool on your mobile phone, looking at social media, is not active supervision. Unfortunately, that has led to children dying very close to a supervisor.

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“Sadly, it only takes 20 seconds for a child to drown.’’

Ms Birch said supervision by alert adults was crucial, because although water attracted young children they didn’t realise its dangers.

New data from Royal Life Saving Australia found that accidental falls into water were the most likely cause of the 965 drownings.

In Victoria, 57 children aged 4 years and under have drowned since 2002.

The age group most at risk of drowning are children aged 4 and under; since 2002, 57 children of that age have drowned in Victoria.

The research also found that swimming pools were the most common location for toddler drownings. This has prompted renewed calls for homeowners to check their backyard pool security, as the warmer weather arrives.

Justin Scarr, Royal Life Saving Society Australia chief executive. Picture: David Swift.

Justin Scarr, chief executive of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia, said that for every child drowning there were many more near-drownings: a total of 7361 children were taken to hospital over the last 25 years.

Such cases could result in children having to endure a lifetime disability.

“These figures are horrifying, and while we have seen the rate of … drowning among children under five decline by 67 per cent, it is still unacceptably high,” Mr Scarr said.

Queensland had the highest rate of drownings of children aged 0-4, recording 156.

Securing swimming pools was vital to preventing drownings, Mr Scarr said.

“Regularly check that your pool fence and gate are in working order, and never prop the pool gate open,” he said.

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