National Water Safety Day
December 1 is the first day of Summer but did you also know it is now recognised as National Water Safety Day?
In 2020, Surf Life Saving successfully encouraged the Australian Government to dedicate December 1 to raising awareness of this important issue, which impacts every community across the country.
As we head into the busiest time of the year for most of our volunteers, National Water Safety Day provides the opportunity for us to highlight the critical importance of water safety, as well as promote our key safety messages and information we’ve developed to help reduce drowning deaths and injuries across the country.
Australians love the water and each year there are over 500 million visitations to 11,500 beaches across 52,000 kilometres of coastline.
Despite the effects of COVID-19, between July 2020 and June 2021, there was an increase in coastal drowning deaths and coastal fatalities across Australia (241) with 136 deaths attributed to drowning. Tragically this was a 13 per cent increase on the 10-year average (120). Most of these drowning deaths were sadly preventable.
Last Summer alone (December – February), 49 people lost their lives due to drowning. This accounted for over one third (36%) of all drowning deaths across 2020-21.
With our borders opening up and Australians now thinking about their next beach holiday with family and friends, there has never been a more important time for awareness and vigilance around the water.
Surf Life Saving is pleading with all visitors to the coast to be mindful and aware of the simple steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.
Simple actions like:
· Always supervising children on, in and around water;
· Swimming at a patrolled location between the red and yellow flags;
· Avoiding alcohol and drugs while swimming; and,
· Wearing a lifejacket while boating and fishing.
These are all things that can be done to minimise the danger of drowning this summer.
I encourage you all to continue to share these simple messages and thank you again for your ongoing commitment to keeping our coastlines safe.
Stay safe and have a great summer.
Key Safety Tips for Summer 2021/22:
1. Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags – surf lifesavers or lifeguards are there to help if you get into trouble
2. Wear a lifejacket if you are going boating, rock fishing, or on watercraft
3. Avoid alcohol and drugs while undertaking water activities
4. Always supervise children on, in and around water at all times