HomeA Parent’s Guide to Summer Water Safety
Be summer safe with our water safety resources for parents!
We want every family to be able to safely enjoy the water this summer, whether that’s at the pool, beach, lake or river.
Sadly, toddlers and children under five years are most at risk of drowning because of their size, attraction to water and limited understanding of the dangers. Royal Life Saving also found that drowning rates increase tenfold for children and young people aged 10 to 20, likely due to increases in risk taking and a lack of skill in the water.
Prepare your family for a safer summer by learning these 5 water safety tips:
Join us for a FREE water safety event on 1 December
We’ll be at Queensbridge Square (Southbank Boulevard) on Sunday 1 December from 11:00am to 4:00pm for a fun event promoting water safety awareness.
Take part in water safety demos, exciting games and win cool prizes! Plus, meet Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers who will be joining the fun from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.
Bring your family, friends and anyone who wants to learn how to be safer in and around the water this summer!
Never swim alone
Drowning is one of the top three causes of death for children under 14 years of age in Australia. It can occur quickly (in as little as 20 seconds) and even in very shallow water. Toddlers and children under five are especially at risk because they are small, inquisitive about water and have limited understanding of the dangers.
That’s why parents have a vital role to play when it comes to water safety. Parents should actively supervise their child and make sure they never swim alone. It’s also useful to know basic CPR and have first aid knowledge.
How to actively supervise
1. Supervise
‘Actively Supervising’ means watching your child closely with no distractions, even if they’re an experienced swimmer and even if lifeguards or swim teachers are present. Always keep your eyes on your child.
2. Restrict access
Restrict access to water with secure, properly installed barriers such as a pool fence and gate. Never leave the gate open and don’t rely on these barriers on their own.
3. Water awareness
Teaching your kids about water safety is crucial. Swimming lessons also help them understand water safety and practise survival swimming skills.
4. CPR / first aid knowledge
Enrolling in a CPR or first aid course (and keeping your skills up to date) is essential for parents – it could save a life.
Know your limits
It’s important to know your limits. That means understanding your swimming ability and fitness level, as well as your child’s.
Stay out of the water if the conditions seem too challenging and wear a life jacket in open water or if you’re unsure about your safety. Life jackets aren’t just for kids or beginners – they provide vital protection for everyone.
Watch the video below to learn more about the dangers of water and why water safety is so important.
The dangers of water
Every year in Australia, we tragically see drowning deaths that remind us how important water safety is. Although this is frightening, there are ways to prevent drowning.
Ensuring your child learns to swim and has water safety skills is one of the most important things you can do. Your child is never too young to learn.
Our assistant manager Bennjamin at St Kilda tells us all about the dangers of water and provides his top five tips to help keep children safe.
Know the water
Every body of water has its own unique features and potential risks. Whether you’re by the pool or at the beach, remember to look for and read water safety signs. When you’re at the beach, respect the currents and swim in designated areas.
Understanding pool and beach water safety signs
Water safety signs keep you informed about water conditions. Red symbols mean danger, while yellow and black symbols warn about hazards like steep drop-offs or strong waves.
Check out the water safety signs below and discuss them with your family so you can all be aware of possible dangers.
Beach safety tips
We all love being at the beach, especially during the summer. With the crashing waves, sand between our toes and sun shining above us – it’s great fun!
However, there are some risks we need to know about. Many drowning deaths sadly occur at the beach, making water safety at the beach so important.
We should all know how to keep ourselves safe, how to spot hidden dangers and how to help someone in an emergency.
In this video, our friends at Mornington Life Saving Club share simple water safety tips so we can all look out for each other.
Float to survive: What to do if you find yourself in trouble
If you get into trouble in the water, knowing how to float can help you survive. Floating correctly saves energy and gives you time to call for help.
Share these top tips with your family:
- Stay calm and breathe
- Lay on your back
- Spread out your arms and legs like a star
- Move your arms and legs slowly to keep balanced
- Signal for help by raising one hand and shouting for help
Learn to help others safely: How to perform safe water rescues
Royal Life Saving estimate that around five people lose their lives each year while attempting to rescue someone in trouble.
A person in trouble is likely to be in a state of panic and could pull the rescuer underwater in an attempt to stay afloat and breathe. Don’t underestimate the strength or actions of someone in distress – even a person half your size could hold you underwater.
Your safety is the number one priority. So before rushing in, assess the situation and determine the safest course of action. Click the drop downs below to learn more about performing safe rescues.
1. Be aware – Stay calm, recognise that there is an emergency and accept responsibility to act.
2. Assess the situation – Consider how the person got into trouble, if there are any other people nearby who can help and environmental factors like water depth, currents, visibility, temperature and other hazards. Assess the urgency of the situation (is the person conscious or unconscious?), the distance to safety and how you can secure the person in a safe position.
3. Assess your own abilities – Consider your swimming skills, fitness level and how these might be affected by the environment. Ask yourself ‘Can I perform this rescue safely?’
4. Develop a rescue plan – This may involve calling for help, alerting emergency services and deciding on the most appropriate type of rescue based on the situation.
5. Consider after care – What first aid might be required until help arrives?
Familiarise yourself with the following rescue techniques, ranked from safest to most risky. Knowing your options will help you create a safer action plan and minimise risks to yourself during a rescue.
- Talk – Are you close enough to the person to calm them and guide them to safety?
- Reach – Are they within arm’s reach or is there something nearby like a stick, rope, pool noodle, jacket, or towel that you can extend to them? Lie down on your tummy while pulling them in – this will help you stay balanced and reduce the risk of accidentally falling into the water yourself.
- Throw – Can you throw a floatable item like a life jacket, cooler lid or ball to help them stay afloat?
- Wade – If safe, wade out and extend an aid to pull them in.
- Row – Use a boat or floating device to row out and have them hold on.
- Swim (accompanied rescue) – If conditions allow and you have the fitness level and skills, swim while keeping a safe distance, offer a buoyancy aid, and guide them back to safety with instruction and encouragement.
- Non-contact tow – If you have the necessary skills and strength, swim out while maintaining a safe distance. Extend a buoyancy aid to the person and use it to tow them back to safety.
- Contact tow (last resort) – Use this option only if necessary as it carries high risk. Make sure you have the skills and strength needed to keep both yourself and the person safe during this most challenging rescue.
Let’s recap the 5 water safety tips: Key things to remember
1. Never swim alone – Supervision saves lives. Stay safe, stay together!
2. Know your limits – Swim smart, wear a lifejacket, stay safe.
3. Know the water – Water conditions change, so stay informed. Read the signs, respect the currents.
4. In trouble? – Signal for help, float on your back, survive.
5. Learn how to help others safely – Know CPR and dryland rescue techniques.
