Take Care By the Water This Summer
AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, called on Australians everywhere to be especially vigilant around water during the holiday season.
Dr Haikerwal said around 250 people drown each year at Australian beaches, pools, lakes, dams and rivers and that males are three times more likely to drown than females.
"While there's been a steady decline in the number toddlers who drown, there's no room for complacency," Dr Haikerwal said.
"Children need to be constantly supervised, within arms reach, in or near the water. Children can drown in as little as 5cm of water," Dr Haikerwal said.
Dr Haikerwal called on parents and carers to be especially careful at parties when it's easy to assume someone else is keeping an eye on the children.
The Children's Hospital at Westmead has launched a new fluoro water watcher armband to highlight the importance of supervising young children in and around water.
The armband has been designed for use during outdoor gatherings to ensure that at least one adult is watching children at all times.
This provides everyone with an opportunity to join in the social activities except for their allotted time 'on duty' watching the children.
"Clearly adults who are supervising children should maintain a sensible approach to drinking alcohol," Dr Haikerwal said.
"Often at this time of year people are swimming in new and unfamiliar settings. It's hard to know what's just beneath the surface of lakes, rivers and dams.
"Water safety is not just an issue for children but adults as well, with 75 per cent of drowning deaths occurring in people aged 15 years and over," Dr Haikerwal said.
The AMA makes the following recommendations:
- Don't swim alone
- Children should be supervised at all times
- Flotation aids are not life saving devices, children must still be supervised
- Backyard pools should be fenced with a child resistant gate that closes properly
- CPR charts should be displayed by spas and backyard pools
- At the beach always swim between the flags
- Check for hidden dangers before swimming (and especially diving) in rivers, creeks and dams
- Be aware of slippery banks on rivers, lakes or dams
- Don't drink and drown - if you should not be driving a car, you should not be getting in the water.
- Inform someone of your whereabouts when you wander 'off the beaten track"
- Learn resuscitation
For further comment contact Dr Haikerwal.
31 December 2005
CONTACT: Dr Mukesh Haikerwal 0407 599 332, Judith Tokley 0408 824 306