Geelong mum issues warning about dangers of drowning as part of Water Hazards campaign

A Geelong mother has recalled the terrifying moment she thought she had lost her young son. Now she is part of a campaign to alert other parents to the dangers of water hazards.

A Geelong mother is warning other parents to be wary of water hazards after her son almost drowned.

Brooke’s son Oscar was 13 months old when he fell into an Esky containing melted ice in the family home’s backyard.

She has shared the story of the scary moment she thought her son was dead as part of Kidsafe Victoria’s new Water Hazards campaign.

Brooke said she hadn’t thought an Esky would be a hazard until the incident.

Geelong mum Brooke with then 13-month-old Oscar.

Now 9-year-old Oscar with his family.

“Oscar was playing outside in a safe place while I went to put dinner on,” she said.

“I was only gone for a couple of minutes when I realised it had gone too quiet.

“I found Oscar with his little legs sticking up out of the Esky and his head was under water.”

Brooke said she thankfully had CPR training, and was able to use her quick thinking to save her son.

“Your split-second decision can give another person a second chance at life, and my son is living proof of that,” she said.

“I’m sharing my story so others don’t have to live it.

“I want other parents to know how dangerous containers like Eskys with melted ice can be and to never leave their children unsupervised around them.”

Oscar spent two days in hospital following the incident.

He is now nine years old, and does not live with lasting effects.

Brooke filming her story for the Kidsafe Victoria campaign.

Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s National Drowning Report revealed in the 2020-21 financial year, 25 Australian children aged four and under.

Eight drownings occurred in swimming pools, seven in lakes/dams, five in bathtubs/spa baths, one in a river/creek, and four in other locations.

Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said drowning continues to be one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Australian children under five years of age.

“Twenty seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a toddler to drown – this means that items including Eskys with melted ice, buckets, fish ponds, wading/portable pools and even pet water bowls, can all pose a potential drowning hazard,” Mr Chambers said.

“Toddlers are naturally curious, yet don’t understand the dangers that water can pose.

“Because they tend to be top-heavy, they can easily topple over into the water as they lean over or reach for an object.”

Kidsafe Victoria’s water safety tips include actively supervising children, appointing designated supervisors, restricting children’s access to bodies of water, emptying objects holding water, and learning CPR.

For more information about water safety, visit kidsafevic.com.au/water-safety

Originally published as Geelong mum issues warning about dangers of drowning as part of Water Hazards campaign