Sarah Oliver
As many Melton and Moorabool residents enjoy a public holiday today, Life Saving Victoria are urging locals to know their limits when it comes to water safety.
Temperatures are expected to heat up to around 30 degrees today with visits to private and local pools, lakes and trips to the beach most likely to increase.
Life Saving Victoria’s Dr Bernadette Matthews said there are some simple measures people can take to stay safe around the water.
“Our message to the community is to be aware of the risks and take steps to avoid them,” Dr Matthews said.
Those measures include keeping a close eye on young children around water, providing “constant and active supervision”.
“Active supervision means focusing all your attention on your children all of the time, when they are in or around any water environment,” Dr Matthews said.
With swimming lessons not allowed during lockdowns, child safety around water has been an increasing issue.
In the 2021 National Drowning Report from Royal Life Saving Australia, the report found drowning deaths in Australia had increased by 20 per cent since the previous year.
There was an increase in the number of zero to four year old deaths of 108 per cent, and a 56 per cent increase of deaths in five to 14 year olds.
Victorians are also urged to remember the danger of alcohol and drugs around water, which can affect judgement, coordination and reaction times.
“Alcohol and drugs are a key factor in drowning and lead people to overestimate their swimming
abilities and underestimate the risks involved in water-based activities,” Dr Matthews said.
“We want Victorians to enjoy this burst of sunshine on Melbourne Cup Day, but we want to make sure they do so safely and get home to their families at the end of their day at the beach, pool or inland waterway.”
