General News
13 July, 2023
Reminder for water safety
LEADING safety agencies Kidsafe Victoria, Life Saving Victoria and Farmsafe Australia have urged regional families to set up safe play areas and actively supervise children around water, in a bid to reduce the number of childhood drownings on farms.
LEADING safety agencies Kidsafe Victoria, Life Saving Victoria and Farmsafe Australia have urged regional families to set up safe play areas and actively supervise children around water, in a bid to reduce the number of childhood drownings on farms.
While farms provide fantastic opportunities and environments for children, Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said it’s important to be aware they also have a number of unique water hazards not commonly found in a suburban home.
“Farms and regional properties often contain a number of different bodies of water such as dams, troughs, irrigation channels, water tanks, rivers and lakes, all which can pose a potential drowning hazard for children,” he said.
According to statistics from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, 29 per cent of toddler (0-4 years) drownings in 2021 and 2022 occurred in bodies of water such as lakes, dams, rivers, and creeks.
Life Saving Victoria general manager of health promotion and communications Dr Bernadette Matthews highlighted the importance of dressing children in brightly coloured clothing, having an emergency plan in place and teaching children to swim.
“Parents and carers of children really do need to prioritise enrolling kids into in swim classes to learn about safety in and around water and ensuring you update your own CPR qualification,” she said.
Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards said ensuring all children are wearing brightly coloured clothing can make them easier to spot.
“Avoid dressing kids in dull greens, browns, or greys, and instead opt for something brighter that stands out in all environments,” she said.
“This can help you spot them before they slip away and make it easier to find them if they do go missing.
“It’s good advice for kids on farms generally to wear bright clothes.
“It's much easier to see a child from a tractor or other farm machinery if they're in high visibility colours.”
Mr Chambers said toddlers were particularly at risk of drowning due to their curiosity and top-heavy nature.
“Twenty seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a toddler to drown,” he said.
“Toddlers are attracted to water, however they don't understand the dangers that it can pose.
“Due to their top-heavy nature, they can easily topple over into the water while leaning over or reaching for an object.”