Summer Water Safety
How to keep your water baby (or bambino) safe this summer.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Summer is in full swing, and although there’s bucketloads of fun to be had with pool parties and beach days, it’s also really important to get up to speed on water safety and do everything you can to keep your little one safe around the water.
Babies and young kids are curious and top-heavy, and drowning is a leading cause of death for under-fives, with non-fatal drownings leaving some children with life-long health consequences.
It’s possible for your tyke to get into trouble in as little as 3cm of water, so it’s essential that you’re on top of water safety at home and away.
Obviously, supervision is your number one job, but there’s more to water safety than this.
For instance, you probably didn’t know that pet bowls pose a drowning risk and paddle pools need a fence; and to delve deeper into water safety, we’ve spoken with Stacey Pidgeon, National Manager of Research and Policy at Royal Life Saving Society Australia.
Stacey tells us that swimming pools pose the greatest risk for under-fives, but smaller vessels can be dangerous, too.
She says, “Around the home, water-filled buckets, containers and baths pose a big risk for little ones, and it’s important to cover nappy buckets and pet bowls if possible, and keep water containers empty or out of reach of your under-fives.”
Stacey explains that, “Even a toilet bowl can be dangerous for a little child, so it’s wise to keep the lid down,” and toys floating in a paddling pool can also be very intriguing, so it’s important to empty your paddling pool and remove any toys as soon as you’ve finished using it.
If you live on a rural property, dams and wells can also be a worry.
Stacey says, “A very high number of young children drown in dams, which can’t always be fenced off, so preventative action is needed by parents.”
The best way to keep your under-five safe around all kinds of water is to Keep Watch.
Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s Keep Watch Program has been running successfully for more than 25 years, and it sets out four key ways to keep your young child safe around water.
Basically, you need to Supervise, Restrict, Teach and Respond, and, in practice, this means you should do the following:
1. Actively supervise your child around water at all times.
Stacey says, “You need to be actively watching your child whenever they’re in, on or around the water, and always stay within arm’s reach of them, so you can spring into action if there’s a problem.”
This rule applies in the pool, at the beach or during bathtime, and although you might be distracted by a text message, TikTok vid, or funny story told by a family member, all those distractions can wait until your child is away from the water.
If you’re in a watery situation with other people (for that pool party or beach picnic), then it’s also a good idea to take turns supervising.
Stacey says, “We find that during big gatherings, people often aren’t paying attention, especially when there are lots of kids around and everyone’s relaxed or busy catching up.”
“In these situations, a curious, young child can easily wander into the water, so you should designate one or two supervisors to actively watch the kids, and switch these people in and out regularly, so there are always ‘fresh eyes’ on the children.”
2. Restrict your child’s access to water.
Swimming pools are the cause of 51% of young child drownings, so it’s crucial that you restrict access by always keeping the pool gate closed, making sure the gate and fence are in safe working order, and ensuring there’s no climbable way in.
Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s Home Pool Safety Checklist is important to tick off if you have a pool, and Stacey says, “It’s also important to be aware that any pools that can hold over 30cm of water, including portable pools, are required to have a fence around them, by law.”
She says, “You can get a fence for your smaller, blow-up paddling pool, all the way to your bigger temporary pool that requires steps to get into, and your local hardware or pool shop may stock the fence you need. It’s best to check with your local council on the regulations in your area.”
Restricting access also involves creating a child safe play area, and Stacey says, “This could mean that you lock doors around the home, so your young child can’t access water by themselves, whether outside or in the bathroom.”
“Alternatively, if you’re at the beach, a child safe play area is one where you choose a patrolled beach, swim between the flags and hold your young child’s hand near and in the surf.”
3. Teach your child swimming and water safety skills.
Enrolling your little one in swimming classes familiarises them with water from an early age and teaches them key life skills, and if your own swimming isn’t too strong, you can always enrol yourself, too.
Stacey says, “You’re never too old to learn to swim, and there are lots of swim schools that offer adult classes, so you can have fun in the water with your child, confidently go in the water within arm’s reach, and help them if something happens.”
4. Learn what to do in an emergency.
Stacey says, “Parents and care-givers are often first on the scene in a drowning situation, so it’s important to know what to do if the worst happens, by learning CPR and first aid skills.”
She encourages you to refresh your skills if you haven’t practised first aid for a while, or go along to a first aid course if this training is new to you.
If your child does get into trouble with water, Stacey advises you to call 000 immediately.
She says, “If your child has experienced a non-fatal drowning incident, it’s really important to get them checked by a medical professional straightaway, even if they’ve ingested just a little bit of water.”
“We find that for every child drowning under the age of five, there up to eight non-fatal drownings, and although some of these children survive without any ongoing problems, others can experience more serious, long-term health complications.”
The good news is that water play is a brilliant way to bond with your young child and have loads of fun, and the Keep Watch actions will really help to keep your child safe around water this summer, and in all the seasons.
Just make sure you Supervise, Restrict, Teach and Respond whenever H2O is involved, and if you’d like to deep dive into water safety, then jump on the Royal Life Saving Society Australia website and explore their family-focused resources.
