How To Protect Your Kids From Silent Summer Killer

We’re all counting down the days until summer – the warm weather, fun in the sun, and of course days spent at the beach and pool. But lurking beneath the water is a silent killer that claims lives in just seconds.

Child drownings happen in the blink of an eye, and they’re silent. In most cases, there’s no screaming, no flailing, no calling for help. The victim slips under the water, unable to alert anyone, as they succumb. But there are really easy steps we as parents can take to protect our children from drowning incidents.

One of the best way to prepare kids for being in the water is through swimming lessons. Unfortunately, with the pandemic putting a pause on swimming lessons, many kids have regressed in their progress. So Australia’s peak industry body for swim schools is sharing important water safety messages ahead of summer.

Water safety starts at home

Firstly, it’s important to remember that kids don’t just drown in large bodies of water. Bathtubs, kiddie pools, pools and ponds also pose a drowning risk.

Teach your kids water safety from an early age, and make sure you have firm rules in place as a family. The Australian Swim School Association has launched the Countdown to Summer Series, with heaps of tips on how to keep the kids safe around water.

Here are their top tips:

If a child is missing, check any water areas FIRST – seconds count
Ensure everyone who cares for your child, including you, knows CPR
Have an Emergency Action Plan in place, especially if you have a home pool or live close to a waterway
Ensure all the other layers of protection are around your child – supervision, barriers and swimming and water safety skills – dealing with an emergency is the second line of defence.

It’s worth taking the time to get your family prepared for spending time around water this summer.

21 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 08 Jul 2024
    12:46 pm
All 3 of my kids learnt to swim as part of school here in QLD

- - Ordinary mum said
  - 04 Apr 2022
    7:38 am
I’ve got three children. The oldest two have had swimming lessons, but we just haven’t got around to organising swimming lessons for the youngest. There is many other commitments for the older two and now with covid it’s been something that has sa on the back burner. But you have just reminded me. I have Tuesday afternoons free so the first chance I get I’ll suds out who’s doing swimming lessons.

- - mom323673 said
  - 26 Feb 2022
    9:43 pm
I’ve known couples who have lost children to water incidents. It really happens quickly! Thanks for the reminder and advice!!

- - mom462038 said
  - 07 Dec 2021
    7:34 pm
Water is lots of fun but also dangerous and deadly. Always supervise kids around water

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 30 Nov 2021
    10:17 pm
I was pleased that all of my children learnt how to swim when they were quite young.

- - tessie said
  - 29 Nov 2021
    4:56 pm
I’m so glad my kids are well past this stage.

- - mom60462 said
  - 29 Nov 2021
    3:19 pm
When my kids are around water I always stay there as you cant be to careful and its for my piece of mind also

- - shanika said
  - 28 Nov 2021
    4:28 pm
It is really important to look after kids around water.

- - Ellen said
  - 19 Nov 2021
    5:04 am
I never wanted a swimming pool in my backyard for this reason. My youngest has Down syndrome and is a risk taker with 0.0 danger awareness. Although she’s had for years individual swimming lessons, her skills aren’t advanced.

- - rovermum said
  - 18 Nov 2021
    12:15 pm
Absolutely. We have a fenced pool and no young children in our family or who would visit, but always to be aware.

- - Danicastefanie said
  - 18 Nov 2021
    9:07 am
The thought of this scares me. I definitely need to re learn CPR. And get my babies into swimming lessons.

- - Ellen said
  - 18 Nov 2021
    8:50 am
Yes to swimming lessons, so so important indeed ! Luckily here in Qld we didn’t have many cancellations.

- - mom74005 said
  - 18 Nov 2021
    7:38 am
A great reminder! I wish swimwear companies really got on board with the research and produce coloured swimwear easier to see when disasters happen.
Blue, green swimwear is impossible to see from above if a little one falls in. It’s best to purchase pink and red swimwear!

- - MummaJana said
  - 18 Nov 2021
    7:03 am
What a great read and reminder just before summer approaches

- - Frankiielot said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    11:35 pm
I really need to get my kids into swimming lessons.
My toddler loves the water but unfortunately when we went to put her into lessons that’s when the pandemic hit and she wasn’t able to.
It’s definitely scary that it’s not just a pool that they can down in but also in a bath tub and kiddie pool which most people have.

- - mom160270 said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    9:42 pm
A very timely reminder as we head into summer.

- - SAS185 said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    9:04 pm
Definitely a thing to remember. It can all happen to quickly.

- - Mumof3boyos said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    8:35 pm
The tips are so important. Especially to check water first, breaks my heart.

- - BellaB said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    7:34 pm
Yes! So important! This is something to be reiterated all through summer. Thank you.

- - KellyB said
  - 17 Nov 2021
    6:47 pm
Water safety is so important. There is some excellent tips here.
My girls are back into swimming lessons and I can see the regression during the period they could not attend. So glad they are back in the water learning.
Fingers crossed summer does not bring the increase in the number of drownings they are predicting.