William’s Law: A deterrent for preventable deaths

 

William Corben, his face is a reminder on why Pool gates must never be propped opened
 

Propped opened pool gates, a sliding door breached via the removal of a bracket and a lack of supervision contributed to the death of William Corben.   Coroner John Lock ruled that the owners of the home should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further review for failing to supervise a child under 12.   It comes as 13 other children in Queensland since July 1 2012 lost their lives due to intentional pool fence breaches.  Swimming pool laws were amended after the death of Hannah Plint in 2007.  

In 2008 Coroner Kaye Ryan ruled an illegally built deck between the house verandah and the pool fence contributed to her death.  A deliberate breach to the building code by an owner builder.  The house was then sold to the Plints with approvals from Council and a Private certifier.  How could pool safety have gone so horribly wrong? The Plints fought for change so others wouldn’t endure their pain.  The Corben’s, Mrs Kelly Taylor, the Tognola’s are all families fighting to save your kids around Pool and Water safety.      Yet, the trolls in their uneducated views find it easier to simply blame mum.  The targeting of mothers via social media, emails and even snail mail is a gross injustice that contributes to further heartache. 


Since the overhaul in 2009 and 2010 under BOLA 1 and 2, deaths in Qld have dramatically reduced for toddlers under five years of age.   Compulsory certification has contributed to a reduction in deaths from 15 children on average to currently four in the previous year (2015).  The last domestic pool death for a toddler under five was in March of 2015.  This death was investigated at the same as William Corben.  

The dangers of uneducated advocacy

Comment response to Terry Gulliver - Swim Coach and Gold Coast Bulletin Article 10th January 2016. GCB Article

Advocacy -  For the past near nine years this has been my life. It is very personal.   To advocate, educate and prevent drownings through public education and community support services, Coronial research, lobbying legislation changes to represent the Coronial recommendations from inquests, submission writings and authoring water safety campaigns.   For what?   To save lives.

So often I hear 'others' sprout their messages and their opinions but to what detriment of the very cause? 

The Keep Watch Royal Life Saving Program is one that we follow and Hannah's Foundation states:
Check the environment for potential dangers then:

1.  Supervision that is active
2. Barriers (both pool fences and barriers on the water Life Jackets)
3. Water survival skills
4. Emergency Procedures (CPR)

Hearing comments such as "parents are negligent for not putting kids into swim lesson and would rather buy slabs of beer" or "lazy parents are killing their children (this was said to my face)" or "parents don't have swimming as a priority" are all too common.  More often than not I hear the latter.   The community has such a astigmatic opinion towards families of drowning victims.   Terry has further stigmatised parents today. 

Charity - the work of charity is to give to others without receiving.   I wonder how many of those in the industry are charitable of time, lessons and the costs to reduce drowning statistics?  Even just a Parent help class?  I rarely see such.  In fact Hannah's Foundation has NOT ONE swim school as a donor to help our work?   Why?  Because they don't support our work because of our beliefs in SURVIVAL SWIMMING SKILLS.   

I've written many blog posts on Supervision and I will continue to write about Supervision because CORONERS in five states have all stated in their inquest findings of toddler drowning (under five) that Supervision and Barriers saves lives. I am yet to see the programs, swim schools or a swim instructor on the Witness stand in a Coronial inquest being challenged on the event of the death.   Whilst many of the statistics you see on our blog are our Statistics they are very personal.   Speaking to families you can break down further the Government recorded stats and I can go further to even record where children were taught to swim. 

Terry Gulliver stated "parents were negligent and complacent".  Considering all pool deaths in QLD have been encountered at a pool owners property with a visiting child and physical breaches to pool fencing was in place by the action of the pool owner is negligence.    Leaving a child in water without Supervision is negligence.  I advocate for criminal charges to be appropriated to events where a child has died or is injured when an act by a person contributes to a breach in safety.    Propping open a pool fence is dangerous.   

According to the public I was negligent.  I had Hannah taught to swim, we supervised her in the pool, we had a pool fence that locked and the front veranda was enclosed so she couldn't get out on the to road from our small farm.  The house was our safety area but I was wrong.    It all failed.   BUT, Hannah wasn't left in a body of water to swim alone.  She was on the veranda playing with our dog whilst I changed a nappy.    The rest is repetitive.  Hannah drowned, Hannah could swim, she died from a heart attack from hitting cold water naked.   The End.    This summer non fatal drowning specifically on the Gold Coast have occurred when kids were in the pool, and were known to be in the water.   So what goes wrong?

One story of Lilly, aged 7 was at a pool party and was in the pool with other children. Her mother in media articles stated she could swim and she thought that other adults around the pool could supervise.  More often than not many parents believe that because their child is a good swimmer they aren't at risk.   Maybe more education should be provided by swim schools to reinforce this message?    There are countless stories of adults sitting by the pool watching but in truth they had NO IDEA their child was drowning.  Adults don't know what drowning looks like.  

A child presented to Gold Coast Hospital for coughing up water after an immersion whilst swimming is well all too common.  When you are in water you risk drowning.   I've spoken to many parents and young children who have experienced a non fatal water immersion event.  Some say that they simply forget to swim, that their legs got tired,  they swam to the deep end of the pool and couldn't touch the bottom.  All similar stories.    What saved these children was the supervision by the pool and the CPR.  Their swim skills failed for whatever reason.  Just because you can swim doesn't mean you can't drown.  

As I talk to children about their event I have a common question to them.   The answers are staggering.    "Why didn't you just roll over and Float?" Many say they didn't know they could do that in the event of drowning, some say "I can't float on my back" or they don't like floating.   The skills taught to the kids who can swim and who do and have drowned simply didn't work.    Swimmers must be equipped with the knowledge and the skills to survive in the water.  The teaching pool and home pool are two different environments and more often, the swim school pool has ledges and home doesn't.

I am yet to attend a Coronial inquest where a coroner has stated SWIMMING WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE, if they were to do so and a victim could swim its contradictory.   

Parents MUST understand that drowning can happen to their children and to them too in the water.  Water kills.   The so called complacency by many is that 'my kids can swim they can't drown'.    This is the complacency that requires education.   I wonder how many of the children who have presented to the Gold Coast hospital are in fact in swim lessons as we speak?    I'd like someone to answer this question because its important and its in the public interest to know this statistic?  

As for coaches like Terry Gulliver.  Why are you so bloody callous and critical of the events of what has happened when you were not there?    Immersions have been happening for years.  A simple fall, gob full of water because kids were mucking around and yes the kids who need CPR.  The supervision and quick response is what has saved these children from a fatality.  Thank goodness adults were there and these kids were saved.  Its all about SUPERVISION.   After all it only takes 20 seconds to drown.     What we cannot record is whether these children were 'actually' dead or whether they had just passed out and not inhaled water (to mean they didn't actually drowned) or if they simply held their breathe too long and passed out (SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT) and then drowned to be revived.  There are so many scenarios to a drowning but no one will ever know the real 'medical' risks.   The saying 'a drowning, is a drowning is a drowning' is a good start.       

First Aid responders can't answer these questions unless they are doctors but the Gold Coast hospital records IMMERSIONS for any patient that presents with a cause of concern or is admitted via an ambulance emergency call because it is now the law to report them.     The Foundation promotes drowning and its prevention. If you have been in water, had an incident of swallowing too much water or inhaled it the better part of caution and prevention is HOSPITAL.  

So Terry Gulliver, this comment about buying slabs of beer?   Lets go with this shall we?  How do you know that this is the mentality of Gold Goast parents?   Did you research a local tavern or drive thru bottle O to ascertain such truth?  I doubt it.   

To the next quote of 20% of students can't swim, where does this come from and if you know it exists what are you doing to lower it?   

20 out of 100 children in school you state can't swim.    WHY?  Have you even researched these so 20 children to find out why?    Research aids in education and provides a valuable tool to help lower the number.  What have you done with it?    All I've read is critical opinions of what you think Parents reasons and actions, or lack there of are.   How bloody rude of you as an apparent expert.      Did you ever consider that out of the 20% of children you say can't swim had a reason or circumstance that prevented such skills from being taught?

Let me give you some reasons I hear as an advocate.  I am also a Registered Swim Teacher for the record and teach kids for FREE as a volunteer through our charity for those who have lost loved ones, although I don't see many swim schools giving up free time.

20 kids out of 100.  I ask of you, how many out of this 20 had an incident as a younger child in water?   Are they scared?   Are their parents scared of water due to the incident?    The industry doesn't support many who are complex in their fears to water after a drowning.   (Read my blog posts here: My reality    and here A non fatal drowning)

How many of these children come from families with parental disability?   The disability can range from legal blindness, deafness, paralysis etc.  Whilst many can function with such, others have been unable to as parents to obtain the practicality of attending swimming lessons.  I've met parents who are legally blind, deaf and paralysed who have lost kids to drowning.    Two of these parents couldn't rescue their children.   Could you imagine being so helpless in such an event?   

Culturally diverse background children struggle with swimming too, what are you doing Terry to help combat this issue?    Do you have some spare time for a group of women to teach to their young girls in a closed space and private?     
How many of those 20 children are kids at risk in foster care?  The priority of swimming lessons isn't one of the Dept of Child Safety and as a former carer our foster child has massive issues with water and was risky around it.  I for one placed our Foster Child in swimming as soon as possible but the Dept never paid for it and it was a 'an extra curricular activity' not funded.    Foster carers do their best and with everything else going on in an 'at risk' Childs life swimming probably isn't the major priority.    I ask you to volunteer time to foster children and their needs Terry to teach them safety skills.  

What about the children in that 20 with medical conditions?   Epilepsy, Ear infections, prematurity development, compromised immune systems, eczema, remission for cancer, the list can go on for why kids haven't been in lessons and how dare you as an Industry representative persecute these parents for not doing so.   ASK THE QUESTIONS and you will find validated, genuine reasons.

How many out of that 20 have drunken, irresponsible parents who buy beer as opposed to providing lessons?   I'd stab at NONE and if there was such neglect they'd be in the foster care group.  Out of that 20 or so who can't swim, guess what?   They aren't dead or injured by drowning because Supervision has been in place or they haven't been in a high risk situation around water.    Just because a child at prep/Grade 1 can't swim isn't a crime and its not cause for parental condemnation.   Just be thankful they are getting the skills and by the time they are teens will know and understand the dangers.  

Every child should be vaccinated but they aren't.  Not every child swims.   Whilst it helps to reduce the statistics more often than not its the swimming kids who love the water who drown and not the ones who hate it.         

The community has an issue with drowning.   Its a judgemental death and injury that comes firing hard at poor mum.    Over the last three years all fatal deaths in QLD have occurred because kids have been left in pools unattended by adults other than the parents and the pool gates propped open. 

Supervision saves lives.  Supervision of swimmers in the water.  Supervision of children around water and outside the barrier pool fence.  

I am offended that the pool laws that so many parents fought to have enforced are stated as being the contributory factor in parental laziness.    20 years ago QLD had the highest drowning fatal on record.    It has only been since the new laws passed in 2010 that ALL IMMERSIONS were being recorded.   Prior to that who knows what the IMMERSION event statistics were.  What concerns me is that hospitals are stating statistics but they are unable to break down those admissions to the where, how, what and how the event occurred.   Maybe every event should be investigated by police and those investigative results published so the real truth can be told?  

Having read the comments online regarding this article I doubt the swimming industry was assisted in the cause because so many are disgruntled customers out there. 

May I suggest Swim schools offer the public:

1. If you have students who pay for lessons open your pool up for PRACTISE sessions with parents at no cost.    Explain and show parents water safety in the pool.

2.  Open your schools up to the disadvantaged in the community.  Contact community groups there is bounds of kids just waiting to learn who need an opportunity and its not because Parents don't care.

3.   Work with us on the issues of preventing drowning and support our advocacy of public education.  

4.  Stop criticising the parents who are doing the best they can with what they have and provide support to those who have lost children to drowning and to those who are rehabilitating children with injuries caused by drowning.   Parents WONT go public because of such criticisms and stigma.   Open your hearts up.

Terry Gulliver has a lot to learn on what Child drowning truly means and how his words have affected families and the advocacy.  The pool laws in QLD are because families of Hannah's Foundation fought long and hard for.  We as her parents, placed ourselves in the public view, opened our lives up for criticism. I am offended that our fight has come at some critical comments by Terry Gulliver.   Comments that are generalised or judgemental have cut deep today.    He has done the industry itself no favours but has opened the gates to social media discussions and some callous banter towards us which may, just may educate someone on the real truth of backyard drowning.

Kat Plint

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

Blow to family but Travis' legacy continues

Travis McCarron (Picture supplied by K McCarron for use by Hannah's Foundation)

http://m.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/tweed-mum-demands-safer-playgrounds/2640090/

The world of social media and news articles tend to work together. Families and social media/media is a struggle for many when their lives are the topic. 

What doesn’t work together is when a link and a news article distresses a family.  A grieving family, even though years on, the grief and despair of such a link causes heartache and pain.   WHY?  This is not an attack on the article above but the family have approved this blog post to help educate on how they are feeling right now.  In a few words Hurt and Angry come to mind.  Ive spoken with Travis' mother Kirsty.    Her favourite photo of her son Travis is above, she wants you all to know who, her Travis is.   

The link above is a great article and it has great warrant in its meaning.  After all a child , Travis McCarron, died at this park and recommendations exist to prevent a death from ccurring again.  It’s disappointing that a family is hurting again today.   They woke up not expecting such a blow to ones core of their heart.

What erks me more as an advocate for Families who have suffered a drowning is that at no point did anyone contact the McCarron family or even Hannah’s Foundation who for years along with the family have advocated this very subject.  How darn rude and disrespectful to Travis and his family.  That is my opinion and grieving families MUST be respected if you want to hear their stories.  Simply, Trust and honesty isn’t hard.  Is it?

The pain of seeing such an article and then having to see it constantly in your news feed with uneducated comments regarding the subject or the coronial inquest into Travis’ death then to have others just dismiss the message of safety delivered by Coroner Paul McMahon in the first place is tragic.   The Foundation along with the family supports Safer Play areas for parks that are in the proximity of water sources.    What we don’t support is the unnecessary use of a family’s tragedy for a personal gain, another cause either directed or misdirected in its subject or ill-informed comments towards the family.

What may seem good intentions in an online post or article, today, has caused hurt and that hurt needs and must be acknowledged.  The frustration also that a campaign that has constantly been advocated by Travis’ family has often come to silence to due to grief or dealing with  levels of governments and the ignorance of “it’s too hard, or no money”, the list of excuses travels on.  It is no wonder so many families struggle to continue to be advocates when the blockades in front of them debilitate them physically and emotionally.  Travis died, his inquest is public and his recommendations have been ignored which infuriates those who have suffered their greatest of losses.  

Even after all this time the pain of Travis’ loss is felt by his family and friends still and each day is as hard as the day before and last week.  Grief is a life long journey.  Many families struggle and perhaps an article could have reached them on a good day?  However to ‘piss off’ a family and make them infuriatingly mad that they are unable to respond is unjust.  To upset siblings, relatives and friends is another unjust reason to be beefed off with social media today.   I’ve seen and witnessed families having to be hospitalised due to such shocks without being forearmed.  It’s difficult to talk about drowning and safety without a ridicule from an uneducated opinion online.  Imagine YOUR shock if this was YOUR child, YOUR family?    Respect goes a long way to reaching the messages of safety and using another childs death to obtain an outcome.  Travis' family have no problem or issue with permission but they are shocked they weren't informed, that's all.   Common courtesy was lost today, it created hurt.

Travis’ family support “Safer Play Grounds” after all their son lost his life because of failed duty of care of supervison by his day carer and the failure of a barrier to water.  Both would have saved his life.  So to make his life and death not be in vain help promote this link to promote the real reasons behind the campaign itself.   The truth for Travis needs to be told and promoted always.   Please supervise your children around water always, be alert of the environment in new places and especially make sure you have barriers in place to prevent access. In public areas always be alert it only takes seconds to lose a loved one and a lifetime to grieve their loss.

Please jump online to the causes.com and support the McCarron family and promote "Safer Play Areas for children".   https://www.causes.com/causes/266444-travis-mccarron-petition-for-fencing-around-childrens-playgrounds.

For further comment you can contact Hannah's Foundation on 07 5465 2000 or email Katherine@hannahsfoundation.org.au or Twitter:  @HFKatPlint

Kat Plint
Founder of Hannah's Foundation

Not enough, Too many

Since the 15th December 2014 the Foundation has received over 40 calls for support from over 70+ drowning.  YES 40. YES SHOCKING 70+. Some of those are from multiple family members however many are from just the immediate family.   The sadness and grief is overwhelming at times, no doubt when we are all living it.

What really got my goat up today when I was discussing this shocking statistic was is our awareness doing its job?  Well for a start this advocacy journey is NOT A JOB, its a heartfelt walk that many of who have lost loved ones are trying to do as best we can and without funding to do it.   Some days are hard enough without the questioning of  'is it enough?'.  I often ask myself daily are we doing enough ?  Can we do it better?  For sure.  Absolutely we can.  However how much time is in the day?   Where is the Funding?   Sadly our work needs money, because social media is all we have and we have no staff to run our office.  Our volunteer families work their backsides off and often go unmentioned as they request but they are worthy of a very big thank you.

Just today, we were up early, on the phones helping a family attempting to organise a funeral, liaise with the funeral accounts department, get claim forms in , approvals, then off to do a media article, speak to more people, ring some contacts and its only 11am.    Spare me, we aren't doing enough. 

Where is the Community going to be with us on this issue?   Why do they blame us when it all goes wrong, when the statistics go so high yet some wont display our brochures or hear us speak?  Why is that when a drowning occurs the parents are always blamed yet no one knows the circumstances?  Why are you all so judgmental?

Before you criticise our awareness take a really good hard look at what we do.   We provide FREE advise for pool safety and advise for FREE the many photos sent to us with measurements and questions to ensure houses are compliant. This week I personally have researched TWO Coronial inquests, written two reports, searched our server for documents to supply to coroners and I still have more to do.  The multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter to keep people on top of messages is crucial we attempt a few posts a week sometimes more daily.  The list is endless then we have the government reporting to do and this month I'm behind in the filing (its kind of like doing laundry, put in the basket and hope it folds itself). 

We provide at minimal cost Pool safety inspections.   Talk to schools when allowed to help kids understand the dangers of water.  Its difficult to hear what kids tell us about what happens at home regarding boating and alcohol, not wearing life jackets and kids as young as Prep telling us that they bath their baby siblings.   Its darn horrifying and there are some days when I just come home, sit here and cry.   People just don't get it.   Why don't those who question us look at those government funded organisations?   Ask them what is it that they do?    If we focus on one factor of drowning, another factor goes up.  Drowning prevention needs to be consistent.  Its needs to be daily, in your face, constant and factual. 

Drowning is real.  Drowning can happen to anyone, anytime, any place.   Drowning only has the cure by Prevention.  So if you believe in our cause help make a donation instead of being critical of our passion. One day you might just need this examplorary service that is well documented and so many families are very grateful for.

Kat Plint.

SUPERVISION - Your priority near the pool

There are 23 more days til Christmas. 

There is only 8 more days til Hannah's 10th Birthday.

I should be preparing a house full of near teenage girls partying with their horses and eating cake but instead I visit a grave and watch other parents do the same this time of year.  Other parents are also heartbreakingly watching their child die slowly from their injuries because they too drowned not so long ago and their medical complications are nearing the end.  Its all too darn tragic.  Its an awful time for everyone but what is frustrating me most right now is that we can't change the past of those victims who are suffering and those on the outside of our world aren't listening to the messages of saving kids lives and their own.

This morning I received a phone call from Lee.   She raved about our safety messages and said she shared them when she could on social media. Thanks Lee, we need more people like you. 

Lee's phone call had me wild, angry and shaking my head but honestly I wasn't suprised by it at all because we are seeing it time and time again.    Lee's story was only recent and its impacted her severely that she had to call us.    Whilst visiting friends with a pool all the kids were swimming in Swim vests with Lee in the pool.  No one was on the pool deck supervising, leaving the onus of responsibility to Lee.  She felt rather uncomfortable.    Another parent dropped her child off with just a kickboard.  A non swimmer to which Lee is unaware.  Mum leaves to go visit the home owner and Lee is now watching three non swimmers, two in vests and one not.   Seconds later she is swimming frantically to get to the non swimmer who is now on the bottom of the pool and the kickboard swimmingly on top.  Its all happened in a blink.   Blocking her view too was a bean bag floating in the pool.  The child was under it. 

These occurrences are too frequent and they must stop.

Parents need to think.  Just because one person is there doesn't mean all kids are safer. Infact the more kids to less adults the more the risk, the higher risk is no adults at all with kids in the pool.  Whilst Lee was rescuing this child, the other two children were NOT supervised.    When swimmers are in the water including Adults EVERYONE must be supervised ON DECK.  Where was that supervision on deck? 

Drowning has no sound, it is silent.  When the victim is vertical in the water their arms will angel push their bodies to the top of the water in an attempt to survive and to get AIR.  They can't call out, they are fighting for AIR to live, to breathe.  Drowning is called the Silent killer for a reason because its deadly silent.  Ask only parent who has witnessed this eerie  silence of death.  

Swimming is a fun part of Christmas with family.   Very quickly though as Lee recounted it could have been very different.  Whilst the child was okay coughing and spluttering with her little heart racing what astounds me further is that the mother of this child was oblivious to the whole situation.   Dismissing it as Lee's fault and that nothing serious happened.  Whilst Lee took her supervision seriously and with three kids, a quick accident of this child losing her kick board, her sole floatation aid turned to horror under the water.   I feel for Lee and this child, this would and was a scary and very real situation.  Of course if the situation was fatal the public would be turning on Lee and the blame game starting.  Happens every time.

It astounds me that so few parents don't take water seriously when it involves children.  They are oblivious to their own actions. Other actions are propping open pool gates.  This killed 7 children last year and I am angry that NOT one pool owner/carer/parent or tenant who propped that gate open were charged.    They breached safety.     The safety in this case?   Supervision was there but there were no barriers.  A barrier in this case would have been a Life jacket compliant to standards.  Not a swim vest although with three non swimmers a vest is better than nothing.  The child should have been instructed to not go outside the depth of the shallow end.  Lee didnt know this child or her ability, yet the onus was placed on Lee to fully watch this child.    Again, its always the supervisors fault or the carer at the time, which was Lee.

Lee stated she will never, ever accept the responsibility of another child in a body of water again.   The pressure was enormous and she is angry. I feel her anger. 

It takes 20 seconds to drown.   Then the brain starts to die.  Slowly.   Its a timed race against time that truly no one should ever experience.

There are many stories out there of frightening events like this. We try to tell the facts of drowning and how quickly they occur.  

Please I urge you to help your children around water, be with them, play with them, get them familiar and for pete's sake TEACH them survival skills at a swim school.  Roll over and float.  Do not teach them breath holding it, too, is dangerous.

A message for today, keep an eye on your kids, and actively supervise them.  If they are non swimmers get in the water with them to keep them at arms reach it wont hurt you.

A message this Christmas....  Stay Alive and Supervise your children

Just because kids can swim doesn't mean they can't drown, many swimmers drowned last year.  

Kat Plint
Learn to Swim Instructor
Drowning Prevention Advocate