Water safety is essential with warmer weather

According to the organisation between 2007-08 and 2017-18, 12 people fatally drowned in the Shepparton region, which also covers Echuca, Cobram and Yarrawonga.

Thirty-two Shepparton region residents were hospitalised for non-fatal drownings during the same period and a quarter of drowning deaths were children aged up to four.

We are blessed to live in an area that has sunshine most days of the year and is also geographically central to many lakes, rivers and creeks, but it is important that we always respect the unpredictability of these waterways and remain vigilant.

For many of us, being smart around water is subconsciously engrained from years spent on boats or lounging at the beach, but for the youngest members of our society, this intuition is non-existent at times.

Life Saving Victoria’s Sink or Swim program is an essential program for our school aged children, teaching children to make safer choices in aquatic environments.

Not only does this teach the children, it also helps educate families to be more cautious of their children around water and makes them think about their own behaviour when dealing with water safety.

According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2018, 40 people drowned in 2017-18, with 25 per cent of all drowning incidents across Australia occurring in rivers, creeks and streams.

In Victoria, 60 percent of drowning deaths took place in Summer and 73 percent of those who drowned were male.

The report also positively recorded decreases in Australia’s drowning percentages across all child age groups, which highlights the importance of programs such as that created by Life Saving Victoria.

Be vigilant and stay safe around water to protect yourself and those around you.

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