Despite our culture being built on iconic beaches, smiling swimmers and the international export, Bondi Rescue, surprisingly few families - even those with pools in their backyards - have any knowledge of drowning prevention or CPR.
The general misconception is that there will be splashing and shouting so parents can come to the rescue. Sadly, this isn't the case. Drowning is fast and silent, which is why many parents didn't even know it was happening.
The official statistics from the Australian Royal Lifesaving Society's 2008 Drowning Report show that young men (aged 18-34) and toddlers are the groups particularly at risk. High jinks and water sports can explain the high risk for the guys, but sadly the backyard pool is the danger zone for the children.
"An increasing number of children are drowning by getting through, under or over existing pool gates and fencing that their parents believed were secure," said Royal Life Saving CEO, Rob Bradley. He also stressed the importance of learning CPR and doing regular refresher courses every two years to ensure, in the event you need to use CPR, you have the skills to save a life.
Despite the urging of the Royal Lifesaving Society, every summer records tragic statistics. The drowning of the Central Coast twins and two year old Harry only days later demonstrates the regularity of these toddler deaths.
Twins Seth and Braith were lucky - when their parents found them face-down and blue in the pool, they knew how to get them out and start resuscitation. Immediate action and nearly four minutes of heartbreaking CPR saved their lives.
A Hunter Health survey in 2004 found 4900 children under five, or one in eight toddlers, had had near-drowning experiences, mostly in backyard pools.
"Children, particularly younger ones, will continue to breathe even under the water, but they stop breathing in less than a minute, it's why they drown so quickly" said Royal Life Saving NSW chief executive David Macallister. "The awful thing about backyard pool drownings is that they're preventable. They're always preventable," said Leonie Forsyth, Kidsafe Hunter's regional executive.
Spare an hour to learn CPR and potentially save your child's life. Don't hope for the best, don't neglect your children's safety. Take action now to protect your family.
Essential layers of protection when you have a pool are:
- Have swim lessons. Make sure your children can swim from an early age
- Ensure your pool gate complies with Safety Standards
- Always close and check the pool gate
- Learn CPR
Next year let's hope for zero toddler drowning and build a national of healthy, happy water-safe families.