Water safety warning as hot weather arrives

07 January 2010 Water safety warning as hot weather arrives

Queensland Health is warning residents to be water safe as the arrival of hot, steamy conditions prompt more people to take to the water.

So far since June, and with the hotter weather still to come, Queensland Health Emergency Departments already has recorded 112 near drowning incidents.

Most of the incidents involved pools but some also involved the beach, and local lakes and freshwater creeks.

Nambour Emergency Department consultant emergency physician Dr Tony Harrington said a worrying aspect of this year's statistics was a jump in immersion incidents of children under five years of age.

"In 2008/09 there were 94 near drowning presentations aged under five years old to Queensland Health Emergency Departments, eight of which presented at the Caloundra, Gympie or Nambour Hospitals.

"Since June this year there have already been 56 presentations throughout Queensland in this age group with four of these presenting at the Caloundra, Gympie or Nambour Hospitals," Dr Harrington said.

"If this continues, unfortunately there will be more near drowning incidents in this age group than the previous year.

"This is a very worrying trend and it shows that some people are still not taking the water safety message to heart, especially where children are concerned."

Dr Harrington said when swimming in lakes and freshwater creeks, people should beware of underwater obstacles and fast-flowing water.

"At the beach, always swim between the lifesaver flags and beware of currents and other dangers in the waters off unpatrolled beaches,'' Dr Harrington said.

"And always keep an eye on young children, wherever they are swimming.

"The backyard pool, even if it's just an inflatable one, can be a deadly place.

"It can take less than two minutes and only one litre of water for a child to drown.

"Some important things that parents and carers can do to keep kids safe around pools is always to supervise children in swimming pools and to make sure the pool is properly fenced and maintained.

"Also, I would like to see all people trained in CPR, especially those with young children."

Cairns, Gold Coast and Logan are the hot spot regions with an increase to these emergency departments of near drowning incidents since June in the under five years age group.

Katherine Plint, Founder and Executive Officer and National Support Services Coordinator Hannah''s Foundation said the message of water safety over the Christmas holidays was crucial to be heard by every parent.

"Hannah''s Foundation is fearful that the increase of immersion events across Queensland will most certainly increase the fatality rate if the current trends continue," Katherine said.

"Since 1 July 2009 the foundation has assisted many families across all age groups but the highest age group is the under fours.

"With five fatalities in baths, public pools, a bucket and one backyard inground pool and 56 immersions going to hospital the zero target is very hard to achieve but it can be done with supervision, correct fencing to pools, CPR knowledge and awareness to the risk in water.

"Messages of don't drink and drown, swim with a buddy, fence your pools and supervision is the most important always.

"Many people on holiday will be in new environments not realising the imminent risk to their children over the holiday period."

Some essential precautions for pool safety include:

• Always keep your pool fence and gates well maintained
• Keep pool gate closed -- never prop it open
• Always supervise young children
• Keep objects away from the fence
• Teach your children to swim
• Learn resuscitation
• Display resuscitation charts near the pool enclosure

For more information on pool fencing requirements for spas and in ground or above ground swimming pools visit http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/building/pool-fencing-current-laws.html

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Publish Date: 07 Jan 10

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