According to Royal Life Saving Society drawning report mentioned that there are 38% children drowning increase to291 drawn last year are children and so are senior Australians. Drawning can occur in baths, backyard pools, water ways, rivers, and beach.
But Poolwerx new research showed one in three parents don't take their children to learn how to swim but choose other activities for instance, sports, music or ballet instead of leaning to swim. What even more shocking is that one in four parents have experienced near drawn situation whether be their children, relatives, friends or someone they know. But most disturbing aspect is that children under five are four time more likely to drawn.
It is too expensive, either it is too early for kids to learn how to swim or because they can't afford swimming on top of other activities are some of the reasons why parents don't enroll their children in swimming class.
Mr. O'Brien said that Poolwerx has partnered with former Australian Olympic Swim Coach Laurie Lawrence's Kids Alive showed that baby as young as four to six months can be taught not swimming but basic live saving skills like turning their back and how to get to the side of the pool.
Poolwerx director John O'Brien said that besides children under five, there are other high risk groups especially young boys or youth from 15-24 years old, senior Australian and new tourists who visit Australia.
For boys or youth under 24 years old, due to their drinking behavior, swimming at night or skylarking that will cause them trouble. As for senior Australian, their medication might make them fall and drawn. But new migrants especially from European and Asian countries are the one likely to drawn in Australian beach.
But Mr. O'Brien said that teaching someone to swim is very important because it is life saving. Then appointing someone to look after other people when family or friends get together during summer to prevent someone drawing is also very important.
He said that it is very important that people should take safety in their own hand by learning how to swim because we can only rely so much help from others either lifeguard, of Australian government. But most crucial is people have to find more information about water safety, where should be swimming or not to swim, respect lifeguard, be vigilance and look out for each other.
He added that during Learn2swimweek from the 24th September to 2nd October 2017, there are free swimming lessons that present can access if they check local swimming schools that provide free swimming lesson for kids under five. The can check www.learn2swimweek.com
