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Royal Life Saving warns that not only backyard pools claim young Australian lives

December's tragic drowning deaths of two children aged 7 and 8 years in a dam at a South Western Queensland property and the drowning death of a boy 5 years also in a dam in Queensland, has prompted Royal Life Saving to remind parents and carers that it is not only the backyard pool that claims young Australian lives every year.

Royal Life Saving has recognised over the years that dams, water troughs and lakes on rural properties are all sites where toddlers and children have drowned. Rural waterways are increasingly emerging as a danger zone, unlike the backyard pool or a patrolled beach these aquatic locations are often isolated and unsupervised. "Rural properties require different strategies to keep children safe. You can't fence off these large areas in the same way you would a backyard pool," says Ken Chandler, Executive Director Royal Life Saving Queensland. "Royal Life Saving suggests creating a child-safe area close to the home. This is an area that is enclosed and keeps the children close to the home and away from any water bodies," added Chandler.

Royal Life Saving is also reminding all parents that older siblings should not be entrusted with the responsibility of looking after younger children. Older children are not equipped with the skills to perceive and respond to an emergency situation, nor should they be given this responsibility.

The Royal Life Saving Society is Australia's largest provider of water safety education. The programs and information available to the Australian public are designed to build awareness of dangers in aquatic environments and to arm the community with lifesaving skills used in both prevention and rescue. Royal Life Saving has developed a series of fact sheets for parents with information on keeping their young ones safe when in, on or around water. These are available to view and download on www.keepwatch.com.au.

Royal Life Saving has created a water safety checklist for parents on rural properties:

  • Fill in unused ditches, sheep dips
  • Covering/ lids on wells and tanks
  • Ensure someone is designated to 'Keep Watch' over children
  • Ensure others on the farm (eg. farm workers, visitors) are alert to "Keep Watch" for children who may wander off near water - especially at peak times when parents may get distracted (eg. harvesting, stock movement, BBQs with visitors)
  • Create a child safe area to keep the child in a safe supervised area away from water bodies

Media Release courtesy of Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

Release Date: 22nd January 2008

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