How to keep children safe around water
Exposure to drowning risks and hazards naturally vary throughout a person’s life. In children, differentiating between various lifestages has helped us to develop programs and safety initiatives specifically for each period of a child's life.
Drowning in children aged 0 to 4 years
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One of the leading causes of death in this age group
Leading cause of death in children aged one, two and three years old
27
Average number of children who drowned each year in Australia between 2002 and 2022
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Swimming pools are the leading location for toddler drowning deaths

Although the safety information is much the same for all young children, parents and carers need to modify what they do as their child becomes more mobile and independent.

How to keep your child safe

  • Have everything ready for bathing before placing your child anywhere near bath water
  • Keep bath water to a minimum depth
  • Never leave babies alone while they are in the bath or around water
  • Remain within arm’s reach of your child and never leave a child alone around water
  • Create a safe play area to restrict your child’s access to water
  • Ensure a pool fence is correctly installed, regularly maintained and gate is never left open
  • Establish simple rules such as no going near water without an adult
  • Never leave a young child in the care of older children
  • Enrol your child in water familiarisation lessons
  • Empty buckets/containers that can hold water, including portable pools when not in use
  • Update your CPR skills annually
Unintentional falls into water
77%
Children aged 0 to 4 years
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20%
People aged 65+ years
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22%
Children aged 5 to 14 years
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9%
Adults aged 25 to 64 years
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9%
Young people aged 15 to 24 years
Kids can’t help themselves around water, you need to.
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