More than 30 children die in pools | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich

More than 30 children die in pools

ROYAL Life Saving has revealed horrific figures show 32 children under four died in preventable drowning tragedies in the past 12 months.

Royal Life Saving chief executive Rob Bradley said 59 per cent of the deaths were in swimming pools.

Mr Bradley said pools were potential death traps because of loose, unsafe fencing or fence gates that were not working properly.

“As part of the 2009 Keep Watch campaign, Royal Life Saving is urging all Australians to take action and put their home pool through a massive safety check,” Mr Bradley said.

“In the past 12 months toddler drowning deaths in Australia have risen dramatically against the five year average which is of enormous concern.”

Last week, two children were involved in drowning incidents within 24 hours, one in Newmarket and the other in Goodna.

Both children died. At Goodna Aquatic Centre last Monday, a five-year-old girl was pulled unconscious from a pool after she wandered away from her father.

Royal Life Saving said that of the 32 children who drowned in the past 12 months, 84 per cent fell or wandered into water and 41 per cent happened during summer. The Keep Watch campaign is supported by PoolWerx through its network of franchisees to help Royal Life Saving get the pool safety message across to Australians.
 
Ipswich Queensland Times  
 
Ipswich Weather
  • Possible shower

    Today

    Possible shower

    20°C/29°C
  • Mostly cloudy

    Tomorrow

    Mostly cloudy

    19°C/30°C

4 day weather forecast »

Promotion
Suncorp insurance

Advertisement

What's On

Browse

 

powered by

Aquarius

21 January - 19 February

In your greater efforts to save money and not be quite so frivolous in the coming weeks you might start to begrudge the fact that you don't have as good a lifestyle... More Horoscopes »

Select your zodiac sign

Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces

Link to top
APN news and media

© APN News & Media Ltd 2010. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited under the laws of Australia and by international treaty. APN | APN Group Websites

Back to access links