Safety Issues- A guide for Parents
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Drowning is the most common cause of death between children aged from 0-4. The international comparison of drowning rates shows that Australia has the second worst record in the world for toddler drowning. Australian lifestyle revolves very much around the water lifestyle due to the climate we experience. It is highly likely you or someone you know will have a pool or spa in their backyard therefore the statistics for deaths relating to closed water safety is extremely high. Due to this the Safety regulations have been put in place for the Australian Standards in order to prevent this issue that our society faces. Children are the largest targets to these incidents as they are naturally attracted to water with no understanding or awareness of the danger resulting in them having little fear of the issue. The harsh reality of drowning in children is shocking considering that in less than two minutes a child can silently drown and those under 2 years of age can fall easily as their head is heavier than their body. It doesn't necessarily have to be a pool, bath or pond that cause the child to drown in this predicament. It inly takes 5cm of water this has been seen with 77% of drowning reports stating that a child was clothed at the time of the drowning indicating that the activity wasn't intended at the time (taken from www.kidsafe.com). Even though most parents indicate that they have had adequate safety precautions in place the children don't always obey instructions and stay away from water hazards. This causes the tragedies to direct lack of adult supervision. Collections of water such as swimming pools, bathtubs, ponds, buckets, dams, rivers, lakes, oceans, tanks, are all potential drowning hazards for children. Each area contains endless amounts of hazards but you are the parent, relative, guardian or carer need to make sure that you are aware of the possible dangers that children face when around these places of interest.
Within swimming pools children face the risk of drowning and if not direct drowning due to not knowing how to swim or not being able to keep afloat they are still at risk if the pool is shallow and they jump. This could result in head injury causing them to drown. The bathtubs, ponds and buckets all serve a possible hazard to younger children. When playing with wither under any circumstance the child needs to have immediate attention and they need to know the severity of misuse with water. Although all of these areas serve potential and deathly hazards they are able to be prevented through various ways. If you do have a pool or are visiting a house that has one make sure before you allow the child to play out the back that the pool gate is working properly and if it is your house make sure that you check this regularly because sometimes people manage to not pull it all the way shut. Remove all items from the back yard that can be used to climb the fence. Heavy and secure furniture is ideal to make sure that the children can’t manoeuvre it to use to climb. If you have toys inside the pool gate while you are not in there it can become a temptation for the young children, try to remove or hide them so that they don't try and get in side the gate.
Educate your children! Make sure that you are always reinforcing the safety rules for your house E.g Make sure you always tell mum when you want to go swimming or that an adult is always with you. A phone must be kept near by so that you don't have to leave the pool to answer and more importantly you can call if you need help. Supervision is above all most important! You or someone who is able to perform CPR in emergency situations is important as in emergency you need to know what to do and how to act quickly. http://www.swimaustralia.org.au/swim-safer/hazards. Lets all work together to make Australia the safest and lead an example for other places to follow!
Within swimming pools children face the risk of drowning and if not direct drowning due to not knowing how to swim or not being able to keep afloat they are still at risk if the pool is shallow and they jump. This could result in head injury causing them to drown. The bathtubs, ponds and buckets all serve a possible hazard to younger children. When playing with wither under any circumstance the child needs to have immediate attention and they need to know the severity of misuse with water. Although all of these areas serve potential and deathly hazards they are able to be prevented through various ways. If you do have a pool or are visiting a house that has one make sure before you allow the child to play out the back that the pool gate is working properly and if it is your house make sure that you check this regularly because sometimes people manage to not pull it all the way shut. Remove all items from the back yard that can be used to climb the fence. Heavy and secure furniture is ideal to make sure that the children can’t manoeuvre it to use to climb. If you have toys inside the pool gate while you are not in there it can become a temptation for the young children, try to remove or hide them so that they don't try and get in side the gate.
Educate your children! Make sure that you are always reinforcing the safety rules for your house E.g Make sure you always tell mum when you want to go swimming or that an adult is always with you. A phone must be kept near by so that you don't have to leave the pool to answer and more importantly you can call if you need help. Supervision is above all most important! You or someone who is able to perform CPR in emergency situations is important as in emergency you need to know what to do and how to act quickly. http://www.swimaustralia.org.au/swim-safer/hazards. Lets all work together to make Australia the safest and lead an example for other places to follow!
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Places to Seek Help From:
Courses: First Aid Training Perth: Contact Number: 1300 850 987 Website to Book: http://www.firstaidtrainingperthcbd.com.au /uploads/2/7/8/9/27895693/screen_shot_2015-06-06_at_8.05.12_pm.png St John: First Aid Training Course: Contact Number: (08) 9334 1233 Website: http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/st-john/first-aid-training/first-aid-courses You can also purchase first aid packets from St. John Ambulance http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/st-john/first-aid-kits-and-supplies/order-a-first-aid-kit This is the kit designed for children: /uploads/2/7/8/9/27895693/screen_shot_2015-06-06_at_8.41.19_pm.png |
Australian Standards
Fencing your pool
Restrict access to the pool or spa:
- 75% of drowning in backyards have been drownings that could have been stopped if fencing and gates had been in place
- In 2000 the Installation of a fence that meets the Australian standards ( AS 1926)
- These requirements were shown to be:
- Fences at least 1.2 m high
- The gap under the fence must be 100mm or less from the ground ( this was to prevent a child from crawling underneath)
- Vertical bars should be closer than 100mm ( To stop children from climbing in-between them)
Restrict access to the pool or spa:
- The restriction of the pool access should be from outside the property through the maintenance and installation of boundary and diving fences and gates
- You must install a suitable barrier that separates the pol from any buildings that are on the same property (this is allowed to be included as part of the barrier)
- Unless a door is permanently sealed it cant be used as a part of the barrier
Educate! Learn to SWIMEducating your child is the best way to inform them. Teaching is the best way to prevent the hazards. The two videos are ways to teach your children, first start with a floating devise and breathing techniques. Then progress into freestyle, once this has been done work on the streak and style.
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What To Do In Immediate Situations!
1. Call 000
2. Move the Person
3. Check for Breathing
4. If the Child isn't Breaking Check for Pulse
5. If there is NO PULSE start CPR
6. Repeat if the Person Still isn't Breathing until Help Arives
2. Move the Person
3. Check for Breathing
4. If the Child isn't Breaking Check for Pulse
5. If there is NO PULSE start CPR
6. Repeat if the Person Still isn't Breathing until Help Arives