This summer DROWNING must end.... No more deaths

 

I’ve been asked to blog a post for North Shore Mums on a topic that, well it’s not discussed enough.   DROWNING.

This summer again you will hear of toddlers drowning through immersion accidents.  Whether it be in a pool, bath, or inland water way, children will die. Now I get that there are a quite a few right reading this saying to themselves “that’s not going to be my child I watch them all the time.”  I get it.  I was a mum who said this all the time with five kids and never once did I ever believe any one of my kids could drown.  But Hannah did.  At 34 months she plunged into the cold icy waters of our pool using a chair to climb up and use the keys and then unlock our gate.   I had been changing Harry’s nappy that’s how long it took.  How many change nappies and lose sight of your adventurous toddler? Add to this do you have a pool?  Even if you don’t there are a whole list of dangers in your home.  Take a look around and see dangers.

Supervision is paramount around, in and on the water and preventing childhood home accidents.   At home when things are relaxed and it’s a day in, day out, routine, anything can happen.  It happened to me on the 4^th October 2007. 

For eight years now I’ve been advocating for better education of parents and carers of young children to be aware of the constant dangers in the home, in particular around water.  I will concentrate today on the home.  Predominately drownings will occur in a home, whether it is yours or a friends that doesn’t matter.  

Pools, dams and baths are the three highest places in statistics where toddlers drown.  Bath drownings usually occur when the adult supervisor has walked away.  On two occasions in eight years I am well aware of two fatalities in a bath where the carer/ adult has had a medical episode and died, sadly the baby died too.  It’s a distressing situation but most bath drownings occur when children are left unattended or left in the care of another sibling.  My pet hate is the latter deaths.   Don’t leave children supervising children.  Adults must supervise around water.  There is no reason that a sibling should be bathing a baby.  Take everything in the bathroom with you, towels, clothes, hair brushes etc.  Never leave that bath room until the child is out of the water, the bath plugged is removed and placed in a higher part of the room so kids can’t access it and when you leave close the door.   I urge everyone to put the bath plug out of reach because there have been bath drownings when older siblings have run a bath, got distracted, walked away and a toddler has fallen in.   Supervision in the bathroom is paramount.   Toilet drownings are rare in Australia due to our design of our S bend and the fact that toddlers heads won’t hit the water unlike our USA counterparts.  USA Toilets are the third highest drowning hazard for toddlers  

Dams were the highest in QLD alone last year.  13 children under 14 died in a dam.   11 were swimming in the dam at the time of their deaths with many adults and children around them.   When waters are murky it’s crucial that if you can’t see the bottom of the water there is lurking possible dangers that you must stay above it.   Water in a dam always looks flat but underneath the water is a hazard that can kill.   I urge every parent when visiting dams and taking the kids for a paddle that you always wear life jackets.  A proper Personal Floatation Device.   NOT a DARN SWIM VEST.  Swim vests are dangerous in dams and they are classified for swimming toys under the Australian Standards.   As a swim teacher I loathe those swim vests.    If you don’t have a PFD for your children I strongly urge you to get into the water them and keep them at arm’s reach.   Make a rule that all children are NOT allowed to go under the water fully submerged.  Heads on top of the water makes an easier head count.   It only takes a split second to lose sight of a child.  One minute you will have eight heads the next few seconds you only have seven.  It’s that quick.  

House dams are also a highly statistical hazard.   Fence your house off.   Don’t give the excuse but there is no law for it, or my kids can swim, or they kids don’t go to the dam.  My point is simple.  Kids are adventurous.  Kids are clever.  Kids are very quick.   Research in 2009 conducted by Hannah’s Foundation for an inquest equated that girls are more likely to use objects to scale a fence or problem solve the access and boys are more likely to go through a gap or panel or hell they will just try and force it. It’s similar with pool fences too.   Girls climb or use objects, boys will find a way.

Pools.   I hate this subject.  It is too close to home for me and after eight years of promoting drowning prevention in particular pools it’s been an exhausting highway.   With pool laws changing in every state and in QLD Hannah’s Legacy comes in to enforcement on the 1^st December 2015 I urge you all to be on the lookout.  

There may be many families who don’t have a pool.  More often than not a pool immersion is at a friend’s house or in an unfamiliar place.  Remember kids are inquisitive, they will explore.  BE ALERT.  

When at home or a visiting friends, having a playgroup day or mothers meet up, always CHECK The pool fence yourself.   Even if someone says “oh the gates shut” it could not be.  Just looking at a pool gate you just shouldn’t assume that it’s shut and locked.  Now I hate key lock gates.   Two girls died by accessing pool fences and their parents couldn’t climb over quick enough and in a panic they couldn’t find the key.  When a child is in danger in the water seconds count.  Many people even leave the key in the lock, well that’s an invitation to any toddler with the help of a young mate.   Watch two toddlers.  They will problem solve together.   There are many causes of why a child drowns (in any type of water).    Supervision breakdown. 

Supervision breakdown can be for seconds, minutes and even hours. I’ve rarely met someone in the latter category.  It only takes 20 seconds for a child to start drowning and the brain to be deprived of Oxygen.  Once you get to minutes and past five minutes its often fatal.    93% of drowning victims are more likely to die even with CPR.  7% will make it but only 2% will walk out of hospital without injury.   Learn CPR but don’t rely on it.   Teach your kids to swim its crucial but don’t rely on it.  More child victims drowned last year who could swim or were in lessons at the time of their death.   The lesson for parents/carers is SWIMMERS, even good ones can drown.    Swimming will not save your life if you forget, are unsupervised, knocked out by another swimmer, hit your head or have a medical condition.   I teach all my students to always float on their backs when they get tired.   Don’t go vertical to get your breath.   You can’t rest by treading water.  In fact treading water will only exhaust a swimmer faster and you are more likely to inhale water whilst vertical as opposed to on your back.  

Secondly, Pool fences.    95% of pools in Australia as I type this DO NOT COMPLY.  Just because you have a fence does not mean it is up to standard to the new laws.   Unless it’s been recently checked by a certifier.  Portable pools must be fenced.  Wading/Paddle pools must be emptied every time you use it.

Pool gates must be 1.2m in height.  Pool locks must be at 1.5m, for glass its 30cm behind the gate, no gaps of 10cm anywhere around the pool fence, the gate must open outwards and be self-closing and have a magnetic latch.   CHECK YOUR fence bolts and make sure they are secure.   Climbable zones such as plants, bbqs, play equipment, chairs, tables, kid’s bikes and toys anything in that arc from the top of the fence out 1.2m must be removed.  Inside the pool fence must be clear at least 30cm.  Remember KIDS CLIMB. In QLD it is 90cm but I firmly recommend the 1.2m.  Kids can stretch and 90cm isn’t far when you are three years old.  They are monkeys. Leave nothing to chance when it comes to kids’ lives and safety.

Pool gates are the primary cause of drowning deaths, the main reason is that pool owners PROP them open.    DO NOT PROP A POOL GATE (#Stopdontprop, #WilliamsLaw) not even for a minute.  It only takes 20 seconds and you will not hear a child drowning.  Its silent.

Drowning is one of the leading causes in child death.  It is also the most stigmatised deaths for children.  This summer you will hear it on the news, read it in the paper, and see it on the television that another toddler has drowned.  You will probably pass a quick judgement towards the mother too but for me, as a Peer Support worker, 76% of drownings last year mum was at work, out shopping and their child was in the care of someone else.  It’s not always mum, so don’t be quick to pass that judgement because you could be this mum.

This summer you will probably read of Hannah’s Foundation supporting families.  It’s been two weeks since I met another set of parents turning the life support of their child.  It’s heartbreaking but that is what Hannah’s Foundation does.   We advocate, educate and provide emotional, physical and financial support.   Our Peer Support Officers are all parents like me, it’s primarily myself, Andrew, husband, Kelly Taylor in Sydney and two other mums in Victoria who help families via social workers at the Children’s Hospital. I also counsel Police Officers through their workplace services in Victoria.  It’s important to have that understanding of a tragedy.  That helplessness even though you fought for that little life.  Many of those I speak to in the workplace were the first responders.  First responders, just like me, trained in CPR, rescuing the child from the water doing everything in our power to bring them back.   I share a lot of the anguish with first responders mainly people just going about their daily business then a tragedy happened and changed them forever.

This blog post may sound like an authoritarian or rudely blunt.  I hold no punches.  In all honestly I NEED DROWNINGS TO STOP.  I selfishly want my life back.  It will not always be the same now Hannah is gone but for every day a drowning doesn’t happen.  Is a day I am not needed to console the heartbreak of another family. 

I was always under the belief that swimming saves lives and so did CPR.  Both failed my little girl Hannah and countless of other kids since.  Over 100 kids have died since Hannah’s death and I vowed to make that statistic ZERO.  As a country the only way drowning deaths will stop is when people listen.   It can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone.  

This summer I don’t want to hear of a toddler drowning.  I want you all to share the education, be aware and alert to the dangers of drowning.  Supervise the kids around water, wear lifejackets and make sure your fences are secure.  These three barriers together save lives.

Stay safe this summer in, on and around water.

On social media we use the following hashtags #hannahsfoundation #JaisesLawNSW #WilliamsLaw #stopdontprop #lifejacketsyourseatbeltsonthewater #poolsafety

Kat Plint
Founder of Hannah’s Foundation

Who is watching? Thank a Lifeguard

I blogged this last year on Supervision.   Having spent the last eight years dedicating my life to educating parents on drowning prevention it seems many still believe their kids are immune and are oblivious to the multiple of circumstances that results in a drowning.   There is no cure for drowning only PREVENTION.

Today, the day after our 8th anniversary of Hannah's death I visited two public swimming areas.   The heat is wild today and many are out in the open spaces trying to cool off.  These are not places to be when its sheer madness.  Its a recipe for disaster and sadly, its a matter of when not if it will happen.

Lifeguards were at one place everywhere but hard to see when you had over 2000 people in the water.  YES 2000 humans in the water or there about.    I felt for the lifeguards today.  Strategically placed every 30 m apart all 15 of them watching the water, picking kids up, instructing kids to stop jumping, bombing or diving in the shallows, the list goes on.   THEN.   I hear the horror stories from the dedicated lifeguards trying to earn their living like the rest of us (apart from volunteers).  

One shared the story of a rescue a toddler she caught out of the corner of her eye, so quick and fast.  She jumped in to rescue the child and yet the supervisor was no where.   When the adult was located an argument ensured and the poor lifeguard frazzled at her rescue was overwhelmed. I was appalled when this lifeguard told me she was accused of not watching this child and that she had no right to touch her.  Um...   Your child was in the process of drowning, this young lifeguard had the knowledge, skills and this is how they are thanked.  I was gobsmacked.  

Upon speaking to another lifeguard he said he is always confronted by abuse when he tries to locate the supervisors of young children.  This school holiday he says the worst age group is the 6 - 9 year old.  Too big for the shallow water at 30cm but not big enough for the deep pool.  He states "these kids just lose their footing, they forget to swim, they are just unaware that they can't do it all the time they need that edge still".  

Another public venue shared a story that really rattled me.  A rescue of an older child, not really great at the swim skills but they had some skills but when an incident occurred and he was pulled from the water there were NO SUPERVISORS watching him.    He was there ALONE.   Kids can't supervise themselves and Lifeguards are NOT BABYSITTERS.

Who is Supervising? 

As a swim teacher its abhorrent behaviour from parents, carers from adult supervisors to abuse LIFEGUARDS.    For pete's sake without our lifeguards the drowning stats in this country would be over 1000 at best.  Thank god and bless the Lifeguard.

Here's a message to all you obnoxious idiots who think Lifeguards are babysitters.   If you want a babysitter.  HIRE ONE qualified in lifeguarding, CPR, water rescue and swimming survival.   Its a costly exercise to HIRE ONE I tell you but go on, I'm sure many with these qualifications would dig your employment opportunity.   Seriously?  You couldn't afford their hourly rate at private contract level.    What I find rude and inconsiderate is that too many don't give a rats who is watching in a public venue.   Comments from patrons were eye opening too. 

"oh there's a life guard over there, she'll be right". (child with floaties on the arms in the water up to her waist, not in arms reach)

"oh they can swim or they can dog paddle". (two 5 year olds, on the edge of the deep pool adult supervisors about 20m away)

This list could go.  Its an eye opener for anyone.  I wouldn't want my adult children being lifeguards the responsibility is too great and having seen the devastation of what it does to you when you lose someone THEY KNOW.    I've spoken with many lifeguards since 2007 over the rescues and resuscitation of victims and the deaths.  These young people are scarred for life.   Many will never recover, some leave the lifeguard game, its too bloody stressful.

Then there is the social media expert who wishes to challenge the grieving parent or organisation trying to help educate the community.   I can tell you out of the 19 fatal I dealt with last year 17 of those kids could swim, had lessons, were considered a lesser risk in the water than those without.  THEY DIED.    So Swimming lessons wont save your life if you are NOT BEING SUPERVISED. 

To the ignorant people out there who think Swim lessons are the be all and end all think again.  Kids get IN TO TROUBLE WHEN SWIMMING.   If they are in trouble they can't rescue them selves.  Your supervision helps that risk reduce because you are actively watching them.   You will rescue them, just like a lifeguard will.  A life guard is YOUR back up on the water.  They are there to oversea the dangers of EVERYONE together.  Your role is YOUR CHILD/REN.  

So to all who think its OKAY to leave their children at a water venue alone, unsupervised or with limited supervision.   WAKE UP.   You are responsibility to the people you bring to that venue. YOU, not the poor life guard, not the café owner, not the cleaner and NOT other supervisors WHO do, do the right thing.

If you fail to supervise the children in your care and there are no barriers in place (PROPER LIFE JACKETS) then I'm one for having you charged when the drowning incident occurs. 

The amount of kids in bloody ridiculous flotation pool toys and being used as a safety device was astonishing.  It says on the product THIS IS NOT A FLOATION DEVICE.  

Are people really this bloody stupid?   This is all one venue.  The next venue is just as scary.

Visit the coffee shop I'm looking over the water and I see 11 heads in the water and 5 in canoes.  Its a river.   Bloody murky water.   The swimmers were in dark clothing.  Their shirts blended to the water on two as they were wearing a skin toned colour shirt.   I struggled watching them and I was 100m away.  The kids in the canoes had paddles and no life jackets at all.   These kids looked to me be in age of around 12 - 15.   The café waitress said "they've been here all week" and shook her head.

Now these kids were acting responsibly.  Until one of the canoes overturned and two kids ended up on the water.  I watched with my heart in my throat.   I was up on my feet, boots, jeans and all ready to run.  Two men down on the bank ran to these kids and one swam over to help.    One of the kids rang someone.  There was no injury but falling in without a life jacket both of these kids panicked.  

Another 20 mins or so three cars pull up and all the kids are turfed into cars with their canoes and taken away by either parents or people supposedly watching them.   Kudos to these men for being so alert.     A huge THUMBS down for the carers of these teens.    It happened in an instant.   I saw it myself.     The waitress said "I'm waiting for someone to drown".   Shit just got real for these people.

So the next time you are at a public venue (and at home).   WATCH THE CHILDREN.   Your kids, the neighbours kids, your kids best friends.  If you have KIDS in your care or HOME SUPERVISE THEM.

Kids who swim drown.   Kids cannot see danger.     KIDS NEED YOUR EYES.

Supervision and Barriers save lives.  Listen to the lifeguards and next time Thank them.    They have a tough job working on the water and its thankless.   So Thank the Lifeguards for keeping our waters safer with their eyes and skills but lets support them and be better supervisors ourselves as parents, carers, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbours and people in our community.

Its the only way drowning will stop.   Enjoy summer, stay safe, Thank your lifeguard.

Kat Plint
Founder of Hannah's Foundation
Swim Teacher
Coronial Researcher
Water Safety Advocate