'Stay vigilant': Lifesavers' warning as Australia enters deadliest time of year for drowning

‘Stay vigilant’: Lifesavers’ warning as Australia enters deadliest time of year for drowning

22 December 2024

in World

Reading Time: 4 mins read

Australia is lower than a month into summer season, and 16 lives have already been misplaced to drowning, as lifesavers warn that quantity might double in the course of the festive season.

The week between Christmas Day and New 12 months’s Day is the deadliest time to be in and on the water, Royal Life Saving Australia says.

A mean of 15 lives are misplaced every year as folks head to seashores, rivers, dams, lakes and swimming pools to calm down and have enjoyable with household and buddies.

“The hazards are heightened when folks journey, go to unfamiliar places or rejoice close to water,” chief govt Justin Scarr mentioned on Sunday.

‘Riskiest time’

Final summer season, 26 per cent of all drowning deaths nationally occurred between Christmas and New 12 months. That is a median of three folks drowning per day.

The hazard is best on public holidays, with the very best drowning charges persistently recorded on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

“The festive season is a time for enjoyable, social gatherings and celebrations, however we all know that is the riskiest time to be round water,” Scarr mentioned.

“So, it is also when we have to keep most vigilant round water.”

Summer season drownings are up this season in comparison with 2023, when 13 deaths had been recorded within the first 20 days of the season.

What precautions must you take round water this summer season?

With heatwaves and excessive temperatures forecast throughout the nation, extra individuals are more likely to head to waterways for respite, .

Heatwaves and excessive temperatures this summer season will possible push the chance even increased. Supply: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

“Afternoon hours are particularly harmful as folks collect close to swimming pools, rivers, seashores and lakes, so this Christmas, we’re urging everybody to take easy however important precautions round water,” Scarr mentioned.

“Do not overestimate your swimming talents, supervise kids, keep away from alcohol round water, examine the climate forecast, be ready to alter your plans and all the time put on a life jacket when boating or fishing.”

The society mentioned 1 / 4 of drownings throughout this era concerned alcohol, and deaths might occur in all water environments, together with seashores, rivers, lakes and yard swimming pools.

The primary day of a visit or vacation is usually probably the most hazardous, as individuals are unfamiliar with their environment.

Record numbers of young people and migrants figure in drowning deaths image

Greater than 40 per cent of deaths concerned individuals who had travelled 50km or extra from dwelling to the place they drowned.

Virtually 40 per cent of people that drowned in the course of the vacation interval had been migrants, and greater than 30 per cent of deaths in 2023 concerned incidents wherein a couple of individual drowned.

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