By Alesha Capone
Life Saving Victoria (LSV) has warned people to stay safe around the water after newly-released statistics reveal that more than 40 residents of the western suburbs drowned in a nine-year period.
The latest Drowning Report from LSV shows that across the Wyndham, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melton – Bacchus Marsh areas, 44 people drowned between the 2009-10 and 2018-19 financial years.
The west recorded the highest drowning toll in the state, with 40 residents from the outer eastern suburbs and 40 residents from the southeast also drowning within the time frame.
In western suburbs, 87 people were admitted to hospital for near-drowning incidents in the nine-year period.
A total of 106 people presented to emergency departments in the west after getting into trouble in the water.
Life Saving Victoria chief executive Catherine Greaves said the state recorded 59 drowning deaths in 2020-21, 14 of whom were children under 14.
“Victorians are sadly all too familiar with the tragic and profound impact of drowning, as our state recorded our worst drowning toll in more than two decades this past financial year, with children disproportionally represented in that toll,” she said.
Ms Greaves said everyone has a role to play in preventing drowning, from making safe decisions in and around the water to learning water safety skills.
“For parents and guardians, this means consistently attending swimming lessons – a proven method for reducing a person’s risk of drowning – and having regular conversations about water safety with young people,” Ms Greaves said.
“We know lockdowns make it difficult to keep a regular swimming class schedule, which is why we have developed our water safety at home series for parents struggling to book into swim schools and teachers who are facilitating remote learning or water safety lessons without access to pools.”
Ms Greaves said that it was also important to always supervise children in the water, including in baths.
“Children can drown in just a few centimetres of water and in as little as 20 seconds, so keep kids under five in arm’s reach and under-10s in eyesight around water,” she said.
Details: lsv.com.au/education/watersafetyathome/
