Toddler drowning deaths on rise
Toddlers are drowning at homes around Perth in numbers not seen in a decade, prompting warnings from lifesavers that even a small lapse in supervision can be fatal.
Figures released to _The West Australian _ show eight children aged under five drowned last year, compared with six in 2012.
It is the highest toll since 10 toddlers drowned in 2003.
The statistics, published ahead of the Royal Life Saving Society WA's Keep Watch summer campaign launch today, also revealed that 35 toddlers were admitted to hospital after almost drowning.
The eight deaths were in the metropolitan area and happened around the house, including in swimming pools and baths.
Lauren Nimmo, RLSS WA's senior manager of health promotion and research, said the jump was disappointing after years of work to reduce drowning deaths among toddlers, who remained the most at-risk group in WA.
She said the reason for the increase was difficult to quantify, though more backyard pools could be a factor.
"The only thing we can assume is that because we have seen a few years of low numbers of deaths that people may have become complacent," Ms Nimmo said.
"What we find is that these incidents often occur in short periods of time, where a parent or guardian might be caring for other children or doing household duties.
"There needs to be an awareness that it can take only 30 seconds and 3cm of water for a toddler to drown."
Ms Nimmo said WA's pool fencing laws were among the strongest in Australia but the barriers had to be maintained and gates kept closed.
St John Ambulance data showed paramedics attended 59 incidents of near-drowning in 2013-14 - more than one a week - half of which were for children and teenagers.
Though early indications from this year suggest that toddler drowning deaths have returned to lower levels, Ms Nimmo warned summer was the most dangerous time of year.
She stressed the importance of up-to-date resuscitation skills.
"Often the person responding in this situation with a toddler will be the parent or guardian, and you need to know what to do," Ms Nimmo said.
Kidsafe WA chief executive Scott Phillips said festive gatherings with water nearby posed a risk because adults could be distracted.
