Published 9 November 2023
Drowning risk triples when children turn one. Royal Life Saving research found that 222 children aged one year have drowned over the past twenty years, equating to 40% of all child drowning under the age of five.
Royal Life Saving Chief Executive Officer, Justin Scarr said drowning risk triples following a child’s first birthday. “Parents need to be aware of this heightened risk and stay vigilant.
“As children become more mobile, they are curious and unpredictable. It is vital you keep constant watch and restrict access to water around the home. We are reminding parents that ‘Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to. Keep Watch.” Mr Scarr said.
Royal Life Saving’s Keep Watch Campaign kicks off in time for summer to remind parents and carers about the risks of child drowning. Royal Life Saving research shows drowning risk for young children peaks in summer, with 38 per cent of all deaths occurring between December and February.
Children aged 0 – 4 years represented the highest number of swimming pool drowning deaths in the last 20 years. Royal Life Saving research found a total of 282 children aged 0 – 4 years lost their lives in a swimming pool between 2002 and 2022. 85% of these deaths occurred at a backyard pool. 44% of these children were aged one year. Most children were able to access the backyard pool unsupervised through a gate that had been propped open or not properly closed.
Accidental falls into water (77%) were the leading activity prior to drowning in this age group followed by bathing (16%). Drowning in children is quick and silent, but it can be prevented.
Drowning rates for children aged 0 – 4 years have reduced by 59% over the last 20 years, but drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for this age group. Tragically, there are an average of 27 child drowning incidents every year, with 40% of these deaths aged just one year old.
Knowing the risks of child drowning can help prepare parents and carers for their vital role in preventing child drowning. Parents and carers are urged to ‘Keep Watch’ by actively supervising children around water, restricting access to water, teaching children water safety skills and knowing how to respond in the case of an emergency.
There has been a 60% decrease in drowning rates for children aged 0 – 4 years in swimming pools over the last 20 years, an outcome of increased adult supervision and pool fencing legislation across Australia.
“This is the time of year to check your pool fence and gate” says Mr Scarr.
“If there is a lapse in supervision, a correctly installed and regularly maintained pool barrier can prevent your child from drowning. It is important that pools gates are not propped open for any reason. Always check you’ve locked the pool gate behind you and restrict children’s access to outdoor areas without adult supervision”
The Royal Life Saving Keep Watch program promotes four actions to keep children safe around the water; Supervise, Restrict, Teach and Respond. Remember, kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to. Keep Watch.
Andrea Wakefield knows too well the devastating impact child drowning has on a family after her 14-month-old drowned in a backyard pool in 2013. This year marked the ten-year anniversary of her daughter Shelby’s drowning. Since the tragedy, Andrea has been a Royal Life Saving Keep Watch ambassador working to prevent drowning deaths of children under five years of age in all aquatic locations.
Andrea says this year has been harder than others. “We realised Shelby would be leaving primary school this year to start high school, a reminder of milestones Shelby never got to make. Whilst the emotions are still there, they continue to sink further into the back but are never gone,'' Andrea says.
Now the grief serves as a reminder of how lucky they were to have Shelby in their lives, even if it was for a short period of time. Andrea’s one hope is that Shelby’s death can help raise awareness so that other children’s lives can be saved. “We know that something terrible happened to us and we’re never going to get over it, but at the same time we want to make the best of that and tell the story of what happened so that people become aware of how it can be prevented. As we head into summer, please be aware, be present and most of all enjoy all the little moments you have with your kids.''
Knowing the risks of child drowning can help prepare parents and carers for their vital role in preventing child drowning. Parents and carers are urged to ‘Keep Watch’ by actively supervising children around water, restricting access to water, teaching children water safety skills and knowing how to respond in the case of an emergency.
Royal Life Saving Australia’s Keep Watch public awareness and education campaign has been running for more than 25 years. It recommends the following safety tips to keep children safe around water:
1. Supervise. Actively supervise children around water
2. Restrict. Restrict children’s access to water
3. Teach. Teach children water safety skills
4. Respond. Learn how to respond in the case of an emergency
For more information about Royal Life Saving’s Keep Watch campaign, visit www.royallifesaving.com.au/keepwatch
Keep Watch is supported by the Australian Government.
