Drowning prevention starts with you, before heading out this summer learn how to enjoy the water safely:

• Know your swimming abilities
• Always supervise children around water
• Avoid alcohol around water
• Wear a lifejacket when boating and fishing
• Avoid going alone
• Know the conditions
• Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags

This Campaign is proudly supported by the Australian Government.

KNOW YOUR SWIMMING ABILITIES

Don’t overestimate your or your loved ones’ swimming abilities. Choose locations that match your skills, and always prioritise safety.

If you’re not a confident swimmer, stay out of the water.

If you have children, consider assessing their swimming skills against the National Swimming and Water Safety Benchmarks. For example, if your child is 12 years old, are they able to swim continuously for 50 metres or float for 2 minutes in deep water?

Always Supervise Children around water

Supervision is the single most important thing you can do to keep your children safe around water.

We all know how busy things can get and when you’re trying to do many things at once, this is when you can get distracted. Children can wander away unnoticed while parents attend to other tasks.

Remember to always Keep Watch and to keep within arm's reach.

Avoid alcohol around water

Alcohol and water don't mix. Alcohol consumption can significantly increase the risk of drowning.

Leave the alcohol until safely away from the water, look out for your family and friends and pull them into line if they’re under the influence and thinking about going into the water.

Alcohol reduces coordination and can impair a person’s judgement and reaction time, reducing inhibition and distorting the perception of risk.

Wear a lifejacket

Make sure all the family are wearing lifejackets before heading out for a fun day on the water.

Lifejackets are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment when boating. There is a lifejacket for every activity and every body. With the modern comfortable design of lifejackets there is really no excuse not to wear a lifejacket.

KNOW THE CONDITIONS

More than one-third of all Australians who drown died more than 50km from home. Unfamiliar swimming, boating, and fishing spots increase the risk of drowning. Sandbars, rips, unpredictable currents, debris below the water surface and swiftly changing local conditions are all often well-known to locals, but harder to spot by visitors. Stay safe by:

• Checking weather alerts before and during your trip.  Conditions can change rapidly especially out on the water.
• Telling someone where you are going and when you will return.
• Knowing your own limitations – if you’re in any doubt, stay out.

Avoid going alone

No mater your skill level and confidence, avoid going alone.

Thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’ is too often the call made – our research shows that poor decision making can lead to tragedy. Swim with a friend or with family.

If you do go alone, make sure you swim at a patrolled beach or a pool with lifeguards on duty.

Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags

The Red and Yellow Flags on the beach show safe places to swim, and where lifesavers and lifeguards watch people to keep them safe.

If there are no flags on the beach, this means there are no lifeguards on duty and swimming at the beach is not recommended, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area and have limited swimming ability or experience.

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