Layers of protection help kids to swim safer
Water-wise tips and safety precautions all parents should know.
It’s certainly no fairy tale, but a tragic fact all parents should know – children drown without a sound!
Accidental childhood drowning claims the greatest number of young lives, than any other trauma. Between 2010 and 2011, 28 children under the age of five, died from drowning incidents in pools, oceans, lakes and even in the bath. Sadly, 79 per cent of those deaths were boys, aged from under one to four.
According to Swim Australia – the leading national authority on Swim Schools for learn-to-swim and water safety – backyard swimming pools are among the worst offenders.
A few tips to consider:
- Regularly check the pool fence and gate are in working order;
- Remove items that can be used to climb the fence – eg, chairs, tables, pot plants;
- Never prop the gate open;
- Remove temptation from in and around the pool when not in use – eg, toys;
- And constantly reinforce the home’s water safety rule – “I only go swimming with a grown up.”
But ensuring a backyard pool is safe and child-friendly, is just the beginning; a family home is filled with potential water hazards – in and around the premises – which should equally be considered a threat.
Areas to safeguard also include:
- Wading pools or spas are gated or securely closed;
- Nappy buckets filled with water are kept elevated or have a lid;
- Drink and ice buckets are tightly closed or out of reach;
- Dog bowls are kept shallow and away from children or replaced with animal specific water bubblers;
- Bird baths are elevated;
- Water fountains/features have a wire mesh above the water line;
- Livestock water containers or troughs are child restricted;
- Toilets have a self closing or fitted safety lids
Swim Australia CEO, Ross Gage is determined to help make Australian children water-safer. He says, not only will learning to swim from a young age, help save lives, it will assist children, in their social and physical development. “Learning to swim, is the most wonderful gift any parent could offer their child,” Mr Gage said. “As they progress through their swim lessons, not only will it strengthen a child’s bond with their parent, it will enhance their concentration, behavior and physical coordination as they develop new skills, and learn new abilities. As a result, their confidence should also improve, which is wonderful for their wellbeing as they grow up, interact with others, and face new challenges,” he said.
As leaders in their field, Swim Australia is determined to permanently reduce childhood drowning. That’s why they’ve developed a Layers of Protection plan and philosophy, to ensure children SwimSAFER in, on and around water. “Childhood drowning is a crisis in Australia, but there are ways to help prevent your family from ever having to experience such a tragic accident,” Mr Gage said.
The layers of protection, to be employed together are:
1. Supervision
– Constant visual contact;
– Being within arm’s reach of a non-swimmer and/or any child under six;
– Avoid being distracted eg. doorbell, phones, etc;
– Be ready to respond
2. Barriers
– The pool must be fully isolated from the house by a complying, four-sided fence;
– Have self-closing and self-latching gates;
– The fence and gate are checked regularly and are in good working order.
3. Lessons
– Water familiarization: explore and become comfortable in water environments;
– Gaining confidence through various water activities;
– Develop the ‘strokes’ in a positive, free-from-fear environment.
4. Emergency Action Plan
– If a child is missing, check the pool and other water hazards first .. seconds count;
– Have a phone poolside for emergency use only;
– Know CPR.
To find out more, log on to Swim Australia’s website and look for the SwimSAFER tab – you can even find your closest Swim Australia registered swim school.
