The essential role of active adult supervision

According to the Royal Life Saving Australia’s recent National Drowning Report, 339 people drowned in Australian waterways between the beginning of July 2021 and end of June 2022, with a further 686 non-fatal drowning incidents. Swimming and recreating was the top activity associated to drownings, linked to 23% of incidents. 32 drowning deaths occurred in children aged 0-14 years, with swimming pools being the main location of incidents. 

We want to ensure that these drowning statistics decrease each year by educating our members and community on the dangers of unsupervised swimming. All children and weak or non-swimmers should have constant adult supervision from parents or carers when in and around water. Active adult supervision means having eyes on the children or persons in your care at all times whilst swimming in and around water. This also means removing or ignoring distractions such as digital devices including mobile phones, and minimising discussion with others, which could cause a lapse in supervision. 

While we do have lifeguards prepared for extreme circumstances, it is important that parents and guardians are fully aware of what their children are doing at all times. Parents and guardians should also be on the lookout for areas of water that cannot be properly supervised, such as water with a glared surface, too much shade, or areas that are out of sight. These factors can prevent you from seeing what is going on in and underneath the water, therefore leading to an increased risk of accidents. 

Be sure to familiarise yourself with our Aquatic Supervision guidelines to understand the different levels of supervision required by different age groups, and learn some helpful tips for keeping watch. 

If you would like to improve your swimming ability or want to learn more about aquatic supervision, please contact us! We have swimming classes available for people of all ages and abilities led by qualified teachers that are always happy to help. 

Aquatic Supervision