7:30 Report Helps to Highlight Supervision to Prevent Toddler Drowning

Royal Life Saving and The Samuel Morris Foundation applaud the support of the 7:30 Report to highlight the very real tragedies of toddler drowning deaths and near drowning, in an attempt to remind the community of the importance of supervision by parents and carers in, on or around water with children.

Royal Life Saving's 2007 National Drowning report illustrated that 35 young children 0-4 years drowned last year; 16 were in pools, 6 drowned in bathtubs, 9 in rivers, lakes and dams and 4 tragically lost their lives in unknown locations.

"Royal Life Saving is concerned that the figures on toddler drowning deaths reported in our National Drowning Report appear to have plateaued and more worrying is the emergence of an increase this year, a 20% increase is likely with over 40 toddler drowning deaths for the year," Royal Life Saving CEO, Rob Bradley said.

"To put that into perspective that is nearly two entire Kindergarten classes every year lost to a tragic yet preventable drowning death," Bradley said.

"Keep Watch toddler drowning prevention campaign has been extremely successful and Royal Life Saving strongly believes that the promotion of the campaign's water safety message over the last 10 years has played a significant role in reducing the figures from 66 toddler drowning deaths in 1999 to 35 toddler drowning deaths in 2007, " added Bradley.

"Nobody is laying blame but unless you continue to remind the community of the potential tragic outcomes and arm them with strategies for prevention, toddler drowning deaths and near drowning will continue to occur," said Bradley.

Also featured on the show was Michael Morris from The Samuel Morris Foundation, who primarily raises awareness and funds for those families whose children have survived a near drowning and require the expensive ongoing supply of specialised medical equipment or other services.

"It is a sad fact that for every drowning death victim there are three to four near drowning survivors and that over twenty two percent of near drowning victims are left with severe or persisting consequences," The Samuel Morris Foundation Director, Michael Morris said.

"I would not wish any family to experience the enormous guilt associated with toddler drowning deaths or near drowning, that is why it is so important to tell Samuel's story to try and prevent this happening again," Morris said.

"Any number of accidents can occur but are less likely if you are aware of the potential dangers. Unless parents and carers are aware it will happen again and again," Morris added.

Royal Life Saving's Keep Watch Program consists of four key tips:

1. Young children need to be supervised constantly (within arms' reach) whenever they are in, on or around water. Strategy: Have someone wear a "Designated Child Supervisor Hat" available from Royal Life Saving at social functions around water so it is clear who is watching the children.
2. 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. Strategy: Maintain the pool fence and gate. Keep the fence and gate clear of potential climbing aids.
3. Undertaking water familiarisation with your child will help you to become aware of the dangers.
4. Learning resuscitation can help if an incident does occur. Strategy: Enrol today it may save your child's life.

Media Response received in response to the 7:30 Report

Royal Life Saving reminds it is not just one issue when it comes to the prevention of toddler drowning - you cannot fence the dam or put a gate to the wading pool.

Royal Life Saving has received enormous community support in response to the water safety warning aired this week on the 7:30 Report but is concerned that now there is too much emphasis on one issue or another instead of a national collaborative water safety initiative.

Over ten years ago in response to alarming toddler drowning death rates and a lack of a national water safety program, Royal Life Saving launched the Keep Watch program.

The Royal Life Saving Keep Watch program does not just focus on pool safety, it is a comprehensive national water safety program for parents and carers when they are in, on or around the water with their children," said Royal Life Saving CEO, Rob Bradley.

"Royal Life Saving 2007 National Drowning Report did show that out of 35 toddler drowning deaths, 15 were in backyard pools, this is without a doubt tragic but let us not forget those toddlers who drowned in the bath, wading pool or dam," added Bradley.

"Samuel nearly lost his life and will be permanently suffer from severe brain damage due to a near drowning. It was in our case a faulty pool fence but I know of countless other drowning deaths or near drowning deaths in a bath or dam," said The Samuel Morris Foundation Managing Director, Michael Morris.

Royal Life Saving's Keep Watch toddler drowning prevention program focuses on the main water safety four tips for parents and carers when they are in, on or around the water. See four key tips listed above.

Personal testimonial received in response to the 7:30 Report

"I just wanted to drop you a note and congratulate you and RLSSA on the fantastic report on the 7:30 report last night. My wife and I were very moved by the stories and the information you presented. It is not often I get emotional about a current affairs report, but this one moved me deeply, as last November we had our first child, Maddie. Maddie is very, very keen on water, and we have had her in the pool since 4 weeks and she loves it, almost too much.

Anyway after seeing your report I decided to inspect the pool fence in detail and low and behold I found two base screws rusted through and snapped off, leaving one piece of our fence on only 2 rusting screws. Consequently I knocked off early today and have been repairing the fence with all new screws and mounting.

Your story has made an impact on us personally and also has alerted us to our responsibilities as parents. I hope that the message gets through to other parents around the country.

So in three words, 'Thank You RLSSA!'

Keep up the great work."

Further Information

For further information and fact sheets on the Keep Watch Program please visit: www.keepwatch.com.au

For further information on The Samuel Morris Foundation please visit:
www.samuelmorrisfoundation.org.au

Information for the 2007 National Drowning Report is primarily collected from the National Coroners Information System (NCIS) and media reports.

Media Release courtesy of Royal Life Saving Society Australia.

Release Date: 6th May 2008

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