Parenting Australia

Water Safety with Sam Riley

As a former professional swimmer, I’ve lived my life around pools. However as someone who’s spent so much time around water, an ambassador for Royal Life Saving Keep Watch and a mother to three young boys I’m very aware of the potential dangers, especially for children. Many children die each year in Australia due to drowning, with the majority of those occurring in home swimming pools.

Keeping children safe around the water is an issue close to every parent’s heart, so I’ve put together these top ten ways for keeping children water safe:

1. Supervision: Children need constant supervision around water whether it’s a pool, sea, lake, spa, pond or even a bath. Young children are especially vulnerable as they can drown in minimal amounts of water.

2. Teach your child to swim: All children should learn to swim. Swim schools are a great, fun way for children to learn and there are plenty of adults and instructors on hand to supervise and ensure care.

3. Use floatation devices: Ensure your child is wearing a proper-fitting floatation device whenever around water, especially if they are a weak swimmer or have not yet learnt to swim. Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. Choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support, the collar will keep the child's head up and face out of the water.

4. Be water aware: We can’t remove all the water dangers from our child’s life, but if we are aware of any hazards we can ensure our child’s safety around them. Find out who has a pool or spa, where are the creeks where children may go and if you know your close neighbours have pools ask them to keep their gates locked.

5. Dehydration: Children are at greater risk of dehydration compared to adults as their bodies respond less efficiently to heat. Children should be drinking before, during and after swimming, and a sports drink with electrolytes such as Golden Circle Sports Cordial can limit dehydration and replace essential fuel and fluids lost.

6. Fence off your pool: If you have a pool or spa ensure that it is fully fenced off, so children cannot gain access unsupervised. Fences should be at least 130 cm height, not be wide enough so children and squeeze through and should have self closing gates with the opening latch out of reach.

7. Beach safety: At the beach to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Also teach children the safe areas of the beach to swim. They shouldn’t swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause them to collide with them. Don’t let them swim in large waves or undercurrents, or stand with their backs to a wave as they can be knocked over. If they do get caught in rip, teach them to swim parallel to the shore, or tread water and call for help.

8. Lake safety: Lakes often can become deep very quickly so make sure you keep close watch of your child so they don’t get out of their depth. Lakes are often home to pieces of rubbish or sharp rocks, so make sure your child wears foot protection in and around the water. You can pick up some great water socks or shoes.

9. Water Parks: Family days out at Water Parks can be great fun for all the family, but it’s important that during all the fun you don’t let your awareness down. Make sure you look at the age restrictions when allowing your children to go on rides, and make sure you choose a park which is monitored by qualified lifeguards.

10. Make them water wise: Teach your children water etiquette, no pushing around the pool, no diving in signed areas, never to swim on their own, to seek assistance if they see someone else in danger and to understand the importance of good water safety.

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