With World Drowning Prevention Day serving as a timely reminder, Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics are calling on the community to dive into action and share vital water safety tips ahead of the warmer months.
Paramedics participated in a drowning prevention forum this week, hosted by the Melbourne Sikh community, in collaboration with aquatic peak bodies, local government and other agencies.
The event was aimed at finding new water safety solutions, with AV also holding a Call, Push, Shock demonstration to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
AV Metropolitan Operations Community Engagement Liaison Coordinator Katie Cornelius said everyone is at risk of drowning, but simple actions can save lives.
"It's important not to be complacent about water safety wherever you are - be that at home, visiting a local river or lake, or at the beach," she said.
"While summer is a busy time, incidents can also occur during cooler months, with a significant portion of these cases resulting from accidental water entry, where the individual never intended to get into the water.
"It's crucial that when visiting waterways people take note of their surroundings, stay away from the water's edge to avoid slipping in, and actively monitor children.
"We also recommend wearing lifejackets when boating and fishing, knowing your abilities when it comes to swimming and avoiding alcohol until after you've finished being around the water to ensure you remain vigilant."
Ms Cornelius said people planning to spend time around waterways can prepare themselves by knowing how to get help in remote areas and learning CPR.
"If you see someone in trouble in the water, call Triple Zero (000)," she said.
"If you're in a remote location, you can also use the Emergency Plus app, which uses smart phones' in-built GPS functionality to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide location details.
"Open the app and you'll be able to use the What3Words function to tell the call-taker a three-word combination which can be used to pinpoint your exact location."
How to stay safe around waterways:
- Read the signs around waterways to familiarise yourself with the dangers, which differ at each body of water and even at different sections of the same river or lake.
- Learn how to swim and know your limits.
- Never swim alone and let people know where you're going.
- Be alert around waterways. Whether you're planning to enter the water or not, this includes keeping watch on children while they're in and around water.
- Whether in a boat, taking part in water sports or swimming, people should wear a correctly-fitted lifejacket.
