It only takes seconds, and it can happen anywhere.
According to Royal Life Saving, 20 Australian toddlers drowned in the 2013/2014 period.
70 per cent of those deaths occurred in swimming pools – but the terrifying truth is that it only takes 20 seconds and a few centimetres of water for a toddler to drown.
That’s why every Australian parent needs to know these statistics, and more importantly, how to keep their children safe.
So please, download this infographic. Print it out, and stick it on the fridge. And share it with everyone you know.
Because when it comes to protecting our children, it is advice that no parent can afford to ignore.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this infographic is brought to you by the Victorian Government’s community safety campaign, Play it Safe by the Water.
The 20 Seconds campaign forms part of the Victorian Government’s annual water safety program. This year’s campaign aims to promote the need to constantly supervise children aged 0-4 years when in or around water and raise awareness among parents and carers of children that it doesn’t matter where you are, 20 seconds and a few centimetres of water is all it takes for a toddler to drown.
Play it Safe by the Water is a community safety campaign that aims to increase safety around water in a bid to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents in Victoria.
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Top Comments
Can anyone shed light on why male toddlers make up 70% of child drowning stats? I know 'of age' men are far, far more likely to drown than women and I'd put that down to men being slightly more willing to take risks, drink too much and get silly etc etc, but perhaps I was wrong. I would have thought that the toddler stats for drowning would be pretty evenly split between boys and girls. Are we talking biology here? Hard wired behaviours?
I'd say it's much more probable that people don't supervise boys as closely, perhaps thinking them more 'capable' physically than girls (even if they don't consciously know they're doing it). I don't believe that 2yr old boys are 'hard wired' to engage in risk taking behaviour around backyard pools.
I'd thought of that, but with toddlers? Really? If so, that's appalling, even if it is unconscious.
As the mother of a toddler son surrounded by friends with girls I wouldn't be surprised if the reason is because toddler boys are *generally* more active, faster on their feet and climbers. They'll eacape for the outdoors in a heart beat!
I do, my 18 mth old boy is insatiably inquisitive, adventurous and knows no fear. Because of this, he has eyes on him constantly. Compared to girls in his age group he will get in amongst it rather than jst looking or pointing. These are generalisations and I'm sure the opposite can be true but I would never think he's anymore capable than a girl, just perhaps a little more game.