Warning issued on rural and regional drowning

THE Royal Life Saving Society of Australia has issued a warning to parents and carers of young children living in regional and remote areas about the dangers of drowning.

Last week, the society revealed drowned in Australia’s regional and remote areas in the past 10 years.

Key locations of concern in rural and remote areas include rivers, creeks and streams, lakes, dams and lagoons and other common hazards around rural properties such as ponds, tanks, troughs, livestock dips and irrigation channels.

In all drowning cases, adult supervision had temporarily lapsed or was entirely absent. The society is promoting its “Keep Watch @ The Farm” campaign to highlight the importance of actively supervising young children.

Restricting a child’s access to water is another key strategy commonly associated with isolation fencing for backyard swimming pools.

Other Keep Watch strategies for reducing child drowning are water awareness and CPR.

Royal Life Saving Society chief most at risk of drowning.

“While active adult supervision is the best strategy for reducing the risk of drowning, using a ‘child safe play area’ on rural properties is also a great idea, especially if water hazards on rural properties can’t be fenced, such as dams and rivers.

“Our rivers continue to claim too many lives in preventable tragedies, including lives of young children in regional Australia.

“It’s important people ‘Respect the River’ and follow four simple safety tips: wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol around water, never swim alone and learn how to save a life.”

to For more information, head keepwatch.com.au and r oyallifesaving.com.au/ respecttheriver.