Keeping Your Kids Safe Near Water This Summer: A Guide for Parents
Mack Horton, Olympic swimmer, shares crucial pool safety recommendations
It's time to dive into the joys of summer, but Olympic swimming gold medalist and RACV ambassador, Mack Horton, needs parents to tread a bit more carefully around water. With warm weather bringing an invitation to pools, it's crucial to remember that a child can suffer a fatal drowning in as little as 20 seconds—the time it takes to pick a song or send a text. So, keen eyes on the kids is a must.
The responsibility to ensure your family's safety near water lies with you, parents. Unfortunately, the latest numbers from the Royal Life Saving Society reveal that from July 2002 to June 2020, 507 children under five have drowned in Australia, with half those deaths occurring in swimming pools, primarily backyard pools. For every child who dies in a drowning incident, other eight end up hospitalized, with potential life-long health implications.
Dr. Bernadette Matthews, principal research associate at Life Saving Victoria, voices concerns over an increase in drowning deaths this summer, due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19, leading to lower water exposure for many individuals.
She stresses, "With most Victorians having minimal interaction with waterways and aquatic recreation in over a year, it's crucial to prepare before a summer day out on or near the water."
Mack, who partners with RACV in the Keep Watch pool safety campaign, emphasizes the importance of refreshing water safety know-how after months spent in lockdown, reminding us that it's essential to take a step back and assess our approaches to water safety, particularly if we're holidaying with a pool or near water.
"Familiarize children with the pool environment and teach them how to access and exit safely," advises Mack, adding that pool safety education at its core is that simple.
By carefully heeding pool safety instructions, such as the ones provided at RACV Resorts, where each pool has clear safety protocols, you can ensure a safer swimming experience for your family.
Mack reminds us that young swimmers must never be left unsupervised near water, irrespective of their skill or confidence level. "In the blink of an eye, a child can drown," Mack warns.
Even when a pool isn't in use, it can still serve as a hazard to young children, as Mack advises proper fencing, ensuring the pool gate is closed, and eliminating any objects within reach of children that can help them climb the fence.
Inflatable and wading pools also pose potential dangers and should be emptied promptly after use. "A toddler can drown in just 30 centimeters of water," Mack cautions.
Mack encourages the enrollment of children in swimming lessons as a fundamental aspect of water safety, expressing that these classes played an indispensable role in his acquisition of swimming skills and propelling him to Olympic glory.
"I once feared putting my head underwater during swimming lessons as a child, but I later embraced the world of swimming. Water safety lessons can open doors for your children too," Mack says.
In summary, acknowledging the potential dangers that lurk in and around water during summer, parents and carers must exercise vigilance and take extra precautions to ensure their children's safety. Following guidelines on active supervision, proper pool fencing, and water safety lessons can go a long way in preventing tragedies and making a splash in the midst of fun-filled summer days.
Mack Horton's Top Tips for Pool Safety:
- Children under 10 need active, attentive supervision from a parent or guardian, and those under five require continuous "touch supervision" while in shallow water.
- Ensure compliance with local regulations regarding pool fencing and registration.
- Secure pool gates by self-latching mechanisms, keeping them out of children's reach.
- Clear any objects within reach that could aid children in climbing over the fence.
- Empty inflatable and wading pools immediately after use.
- In rural areas, use child-safe play areas to restrict access to un-fenceable water bodies such as dams.
- Enroll your children in swimming lessons, focusing on both swimming skills and general water safety education.
- Learn CPR and be prepared to respond in an emergency.
- Never allow non-swimmers or weak swimmers, regardless of their age, to venture into the water alone, confining themselves to shallow areas whenever possible.
- Recognizing the significance of water safety, especially during summer, Mack Horton encourages parents to enroll their children in health-and-wellness programs like swimming lessons, fostering essential skills for their wellbeing and potentially leading to sporting achievements.
- To maintain family-health and ensure safety during water activities, it is crucial to follow guidelines like active supervision, proper pool fencing, and water safety education, as advised by both RACV and experts like Dr. Bernadette Matthews.
