Parents are being urged to set up safe play areas and actively supervise children around water, in a bid to reduce the number of childhood drownings on farms.
The warning comes after statistics from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia showed 29 per cent of toddler drownings in 2021-22 happened in bodies of water such as lakes, dams, rivers and creeks.
Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said while farms provided fantastic opportunities and environments for children, it was important to be aware they also had unique water hazards not commonly found at a suburban home.
“Farms and regional properties often contain a number of different bodies of water such as dams, troughs, irrigation channels, water tanks, rivers and lakes, all of which can pose a potential drowning hazard for children,” he said.
Life Saving Victoria health promotion and communications general manager Bernadette Matthews highlighted the importance of having an emergency plan in place and teaching children to swim.
“Parents and carers of children really do need to prioritise enrolling kids into in swim classes to learn about safety in and around water and ensuring you update your own CPR qualification,” Dr Matthews said.
Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards said ensuring all children wore brightly coloured clothing could make them easier to spot.
“Avoid dressing kids in dull greens, browns or greys, instead opt for something brighter that stands out in all environments,” Mrs Richards said.
“This can help you spot them before they slip away and make it easier to find them if they do go missing.”
Mr Chambers said toddlers were particularly at risk of drowning due to their curiosity and top-heavy nature.
“Toddlers are attracted to water, however, they don’t understand the dangers that it can pose,” he said.
“Due to their top-heavy nature, they can easily topple over into the water while leaning over or reaching for an object.
“Twenty seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a toddler to drown.”
Farm water safety tips
- Teach children water safety skills so that they are water confident, such as learn to swim classes.
- Make sure children are actively always supervised by an adult when in or around water. For toddlers, this means having an adult within arm’s reach.
- Set up a safe play area away from water hazards such as dams. The play area should be securely fenced, and located close to the house.
- Ensure that water storage areas, such as wells and tanks, are securely covered.
- Remove items floating in dams, where practical, that may attract children into the water.
- Fill in unused holes where water could gather, such as ditches, dips, and post holes.
- Learn CPR and regularly update your skills.