Subscribe to our
Monthly Newsletter View Current Newsletter
Make Christmas all about sweet indulgenceWizz Fizz - Natural Fun for Everyone!Bikeride safely with the whole family this summer with Weeride!Parenting Expert Provides Strategies for Surviving a ToddlerSanta Buddies: the Legend of Santa Paws - All-New MovieA new 'Cheeki' solution to plastic drinking bottlesDo The Dunkadoos Dunk!Start Your Engines! Be True, Be You, Be a Moxie Girl!Yunginz! Cool Shoes, Designed in Australia for Cool Kids!Your Shape and Michelle Bridges partner up for a new era in fitness gamingGive The Gift On Everyone’s List With Disney DVDAustralians would risk lives by neglecting to wear glasses when on the road Sydney chocolate shop spearheads a unique relief effortToys"R"Us Announces the 2009 Christmas Hot ListPerfect gifts from Baby Bella MayaNew Roar Hide Rockin PJ's & Cowhide Popin Bibs From Kiddy'UpBring back Hip Hop! Support a campaign to keep an additive free healthy snack bar available for Australian mums!Fisher-Price® introduces TRIO TM - the new range of easy-click bricksHealth Conscious Aussies Should Keep Chewing Gum in Time for SummerSummer Shopping Passport... It's a steal!Look no more, a travel system that will get you where you need to goKid’s beach bundle makes a splash this summerLove Summer, love cherriesColes Great Aussie Sausage Sizzle - set to raise $100k+ for the McGrath FoundationMake barbecuing 'food safe' this summer with RubbermaidThe perfect Christmas present for your little girlCaring for Your Baby's TeethMy Baby Day Chart from Little BilliesChanging the face of skincare foreverOrganic Terry Rich 100% Certified Organic Cotton Beach Towels Buy Australian Made this Christmas with a BEAUTY MATE gift packMusic to your ears as MULAN and POCAHONTAS: MUSICAL MASTERPIECES Limited Editions, are released to Disney DVD! CYBER SENSE for CYBER SAFETY- Information Forum - IMPORTANT FACTS, ADVICE AND STRATEGIES FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS AND CHILDREN ON INTERNET SAFETYLittle Italy - Lombardy Design and Fashion for ChildrenPlanning Healthy Meals With MagnetsMathilda's Market - Big Ideas Spark Cute Creations for Tiny People this ChristmasChild Talk - helping your child's language developmentPlayhouse Disney’s ALL-NEW feature length movie will bring magic to your home this NovemberPlayhouse Disney Goes Green This October - Seeds available for green thumbed Aussie families More Media Releases... endleftmenu

Royal Life Saving reminds parents that as little as 3cm of water can kill your child

Royal Life Saving urges vigilance after the tragic drowning death of a girl toddler in an inflatable pool in December. Parents and carers may not be aware of the risks inflatable pools pose yet they can present a very real drowning risk to children. Water does not need to be deep for a child to drown. A small amount of water covering a child's face is all it takes for a child to drown.

Royal Life Saving has developed the Keep Watch program, aimed at reducing the rate of toddler drowning deaths in Australia. "Toddler drowning is preventable and it is a ragedy that so many young lives have been lost," said Rob Bradley, CEO of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia. Whilst not wanting to comment on the specifics of this incident, "Inflatable pools pose a particular risk because they are not part of the family's everyday routine. If a parent is not there to supervise the pool then the water should be drained," added Bradley.

The 2007 National Drowning Report, compiled by Royal Life Saving showed that 35 children under five years of age drowned last year. Whilst swimming pools were the most common site of toddler drowning deaths a large number of children also drowned in places containing water, such as fish ponds, dams and bathtubs. Any water source is a drowning threat to a child.

Keep Watch Campaign aimed at toddler drowning prevention recommends four positive actions.

  • Young children need to be supervised constantly (within arms' reach) whenever they are in, on or around water.
  • Restricting a young child's access to water either by putting a barrier around the water or around the child is also effective in preventing drowning deaths.
  • Undertaking water familiarisation with your child will help you and the child to become aware of the dangers.
  • Learning resuscitation can help if an incident does occur.

Call 1300 RES Q ME (1300 737 663) or visit www.royallifesaving.com.au for information on courses and programs offered by Royal Life Saving.

Visit www.keepwatch.com.au for a wide range of Fact Sheets to download and print for parents and carers of 0-5 year olds.

Media Release courtesy of Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

Release Date: 8th January 2008

Back to Media Releases