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“Constant vigilant adult supervision of
toddlers in and around water will save lives this summer,”
according to the Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) Manager
of Community Health Greg Tate, during the release of the Society’s
new “Keep Watch” media campaign.
The campaign will attempt to reduce the 1999
toddler drowning figure of 14 deaths down towards the state five
year average of 9 deaths per year. Figures from 1996 to 1999
indicate a direct correlation between toddler drowning and funding
for a media campaign.
1996 14
deaths no awareness
campaign
1997 8
deaths media campaign
implemented
1998 6
deaths rural and metro
media campaign implemented
1999 14
deaths no awareness
campaign
2000
3 deaths (preliminary
figures) new awareness campaign
implemented
The 2000 media awareness program has been
funded directly by the Health Department of Western Australia. The
Department is committed to a long-term solution to the toddler
drowning issue and has once again funded the Society to implement
the new program this summer.
The majority of toddler drownings continue
to occur within the home swimming pool environment. To combat this
problem the Society has been providing legislated home swimming pool
safety inspections on behalf of Local Government Municipalities. In
the last year the Society has been responsible for over 15 000
inspections. As part of the service the Society's inspectors provide
educational material highlighting the importance of
1.
Supervising your child
2.
Fencing your pool
3.
Familiarising your child with water
4.
Learning Resuscitation
During today’s launch Mr Mark Gubanyi gave
an emotional plea “for all local municipalities to incorporate the
use of educational and awareness material as part of their home pool
inspection service.” Mark’s daughter recently drowned in a home
swimming pool and the circumstances surrounding the death indicated
that as with all toddler drownings it could have been prevented.
Further to this tragedy an inquest by the State coroner has
recommended that “all local municipalities take advantage of the
compulsory pool inspections as an opportunity to provide educational
resources and information to home pool owners, particularly
addressing the importance of adult supervision of young children.”
In light of this recommendation the Society
has produced a 16 page home pool safety booklet which provides
useful safety information for the home pool owner
“With the ongoing implementation of the
initiatives highlighted today the Society can have a positive effect
on reducing toddler drowning within this State,” mentioned Tate at
the conclusion of today’s launch.
For further information please contact
Greg Tate
Manager Community Health
Ph 9383 9988
Fax 9383 9922
Mobile 0408 929 639
Marilyn Lyford
Health Promotion Coordinator
Mobile 0413 336 075
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