WITH warmer weather here, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re keen to make a splash in your favourite water hole.<\/p>\n
Yet before you dive in, Goulburn-Murray Water\u2019s general manager for water storage services Martina Cusack said it\u2019s important people exercise caution following spring rains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conditions have changed quite a bit since people would have last visited these locations, mainly because of the floods,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur rivers and lakes are quite full now. A lot of the sandbars and the snags that people would have been used to before have changed or moved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings that would have been visible above the water will now be hidden so that\u2019s pretty dangerous and something to be aware of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing is to be aware of your surroundings and that change in condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Cusack also stressed that irrigation channels are not for recreational swimming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flow of waters in channels can change quite suddenly as our regulating doors, which are operated remotely and automatically, open and close,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat poses a hazard to swimmers. There\u2019s a lot of debris in the water following the floods and there\u2019s a lot of debris and obstacles in channels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life Saving Victoria\u2019s manager of research and evaluation Dr Hannah Calverley said alcohol is a dangerous combination when swimming in lakes and rivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve found over the past 10 years that 80 per cent of all drowning cases in rivers, creeks and streams were alcohol-contributed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlcohol especially is more common with inland drowning than in coastal settings and contributes to about a third of all drownings each year in Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt affects your coordination, how you perceive up and down in the water and can severely decrease your swimming ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Statistics from Royal Life Saving Australia estimated seven nationwide drowning deaths have been reported over the current summer period, with 23 reported during the previous season.<\/p>\n
Dr Calverley said just under half of all fatal drowning incidents that occurred last year took place at inland waterways, which are the number one sites for fatal drownings in Australia.<\/p>\n
She said also the onus is on the individual to know their limits when swimming in inland waterways.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody can be at risk of drowning if their ability doesn\u2019t match the conditions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe safest message is to make sure children are supervised, that you\u2019re staying within your limits and that you recognise that inland waterways are very changeable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WITH warmer weather here, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re keen to make a splash in your favourite water hole. Yet before you dive in, Goulburn-Murray Water\u2019s general manager for water storage services Martina Cusack said it\u2019s important people exercise caution following spring rains. \u201cThe conditions have changed quite a bit since people would have last […]<\/p>\n