PARENTS across Victoria are being issued a blunt warning by Royal Life Saving about keeping their children safe around water this summer.
The organisation’s research found that 222 children aged one had drowned over the past 20 years, making up 40 per cent of all children drowning under the age of five.
Royal Life Saving chief executive Justin Scarr said the risk of downing triples after a child’s first birthday.
“Parents need to be aware of this heightened risk and stay vigilant,” he said.
“As children become more mobile, they are curious and unpredictable.
“It is vital you keep constant watch and restrict access to water around the home.
“We are reminding parents that kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to keep watch.”
Nyah Two Bays Swimming Club head coach Bayley Forbes said early exposure to water was “critical”.
“You can start swimming lessons pretty much as early as you feel comfortable getting a kid into the pool,” he said.
“There’s some programs that will have kids in the pool as early as one and under, while they’re with their parent.
“Most of the people in the Swan Hill area are likely to live around a body of water, whether it’s the river, or a dam on their property so it’s very important to acclimatise children to the water as early as possible.”
Mr Forbes it was important for parents to be able to share water safety messaging with their children.
“A lot of pool safety comes down to educating parents,” he said
“It really only takes a split-second to take your eye off your child.
“Obviously drowning prevention is at the top of the list of reasons for learning safety.
“But children can also gain a lot of confidence from knowing how to swim and be safe at pools and beaches.”
In two decades there had been a 60 per cent decrease in drowning rates for children aged 0 to 4, an outcome of the increase in adult supervision and pool fencing legislation.
Mr Scarr said now was the time of year to check your pool fence and gate, and that pool gates should not be propped open for any reason.
“If there is a lapse in supervision, a correctly installed and regularly maintained pool barrier can prevent your child from drowning,” he said.
“Always check you’ve locked the pool gate behind you and restrict children’s access to outdoor areas without adult supervision.”
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children younger than four.An average of 27 child drowning incidents occurred each year.
The leading activity before drowning was accidental falls into the water (77 per cent).
For more information about Royal Life Saving’s Keep Watch campaign, visit www.royallifesaving.com.au/keepwatch.
