Water Safety Tips This Summer
◾ 61 lives were lost
◾ 25% of fatal drowning involved children aged 0-14
◾ 78% increase in fatal drownings in domestic settings
(Read the full report from Life Saving Victoria here.)
What can we do to prevent this?
Let us keep safe in and around water. Here are some helpful ways that we can do it.
AT HOME
◾ Close the toilet lid and pull the plug out of the bath when not in use.
◾ Empty all the buckets as any amount of water could be a danger for small children.
◾ If you are using an inflatable pool, make sure to empty the water after you use them and keep it in a safe place.
◾ If you have a backyard pool, make sure there is effective fencing all the way around it.
◾ Move all climbable objects away from a water tank or pool.
An adult must always be watching children when they are in and around the water. Children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised by an adult, and children under 5 years old must always be within the arm’s reach of an adult.
GOING TO THE BEACH AND INLAND WATERWAYS
◾ Swim between red and yellow flags at a patrolled beach.
◾ Never swim alone and always inform someone about your plans and whereabouts.
◾ Read safety signs to understand dangers.
◾ When going boating or fishing, always wear a lifejacket.
◾ Don’t consume alcohol until after your aquatic activity
We must know what to do in an emergency. Learning basic CPR and basic water rescue skills will help in saving a life. The most important person to keep safe in the rescue is yourself, then start calling out for help.
In Victoria, when you call TRIPLE ZERO, you need two vital pieces of information: the LOCATION and NATURE of the emergency. However, when you’re out and about it is sometimes difficult to explain exactly where you are.
HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS:
EMERGENCY MARKERS are placed in public areas, including beach and river trails. Identifying these markers will help you give your exact location to the emergency responders. This means RESCUE will arrive faster, SAVING TIME and SAVING LIVES.
Watch the video to know the importance of Emergency Beach Markers.
Take your safety into your own hands and help in ending preventable drownings. Save Time and Save Lives.
Should you have any questions related to existing or new Emergency Markers please do not hesitate to contact us at emergencymarkers@rapidmap.com or 03 9466 5200.