Rural Drowning
Drownings in rural communities are a preventable but regrettably
familiar occurrence. Drownings occur across a range of sites.
In the period 1992 - 2001 157 children aged under five have
drowned in Queensland. In the year 2000 ten toddlers drowned
in Queensland out of a national figure of 44.
Approximately half of the under five child drownings in Queensland
occur in domestic swimming pools. The remainder occur in a
wide variety of water hazards such as dams, ponds, rivers,
creeks and rural water hazards such as irrigation channels
cattle dips and even the family bath tub.
Preventing rural drownings means;
- Knowing where young children are and not leaving them unattended.
- Fencing swimming pools.
- Learning resuscitation.
- Appointing a ‘lifeguard’ at pools and swimming holes.
- Teaching children to swim from an early age.
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Some drownings and injuries are sustained as a result of diving accidents around water holes, creeks and rivers. Whilst diving in these areas can be dangerous - always check for both depth and any snags prior to swimming. |
