Goldstein Media Releases

Bayside swimmers urged to play it safe over Summer

Article Categories: Goldstein Media Releases, Health, Community

With the onset of summer and school holidays fast approaching it is critically important for everyone to be aware of the dangers that both our local beaches and home swimming pools pose to the safety our community, especially children.

“Over summer we can expect a large number of people to take advantage and enjoy Bayside’s beautiful beaches but we all must be vigilant. It is important to remember that no Victorian has ever drowned while swimming between the flags which highlights the tremendous job that our volunteer lifesavers carry out each year,” said Andrew Robb MP, Federal Member for Goldstein.

Bayside is home to five lifesaving clubs: Beaumaris, Black Rock, Brighton, Half Moon Bay and Sandringham.

Home swimming pools are also potential death traps with the Royal Life Saving reporting that more than half of all the children under five years old who drowned in Australia last year died in backyard pools. This was often because the fence gate either wasn't properly secured or toddlers were able to find a way through gaps that emerge as a result of wear-and-tear that home owners either hadn't noticed or had put off repairing.

"Royal Life Saving says a child under five has drowned on average every 10 days over the past 10 years. This is a horrific statistic and highlights the need to not only have secured fences but reinforces the importance of supervision at all times," said Mr Robb.

A special pool safety checklist has been set up by Royal Life Saving for anyone to download. The checklist urges people to regularly check swimming pool gates, swimming pool fences as well as looking at issues like chemicals around pools, supervision issues and emergency preparation such as learning resuscitation.

The checklist is available at http://www.homepoolsafety.com.au/.

Donations can also be made to Life Saving Victoria at http://www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au/ or to Royal Life Saving at http://www.royallifesaving.com.au.

Media contact: (03) 9557 4644.