Vic: Child welfare body warns parents over child drownings

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-1998
Vic: Child welfare body warns parents over child drownings

MELBOURNE, Dec 17 AAP - The drowning of twin boys in New South Wales overnight served as a
painful reminder to parents to supervise children near pools this summer, a child welfare
group said today.

The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia said the sad reality was several
children could be expected to die this summer through drowning in backyard pools.

Three toddlers have drowned in just the past week,

The two-year-old twins, who lived on a property 35 kilometres south-west of Temora, were
found floating face down in a fenced backyard pool by their 12-year-old brother at 6pm
yesterday.

A toddler in Victorias outer east drowned at a pool party last week.

The Child Accident Prevention Foundation, along with South East Water, were holding a
Kidsafe Get Wet Wisely pool party in Melbournes east to emphasise water safety.

"With thousands of pool parties being planned and people visiting family and friends where
pool and spa hazards exist, parents need to be on red alert and aware of the dangers," said
acting chief executive officer of Kidsafe Victoria, Catherine Power.

She said children who were resuscitated sometimes suffered serious brain damage.

"For every toddler drowning, four to five more will survive a near drowning incident, some
with permanent brain damage," she said.

"These are the forgotten statistics, however, the overall long term emotional and financial
impact on families can be just as devastating."

She said some of the more common fatal scenarios were when parents left a child in the pool
and went to answer the phone, a parent talking to a neighbour over the fence momentarily took
their eye off the child or each parent thought the other was supervising the child.

Safety hints to be given out at the pool party include making sure the pool is properly
fenced, keeping the gate shut at all times, nominating a non-drinking adult to supervise and
learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

AAP hmg/jlw/bjm

KEYWORD: TWINS VIC

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