Supervise your children warnings timely after a near drowning

Posted on 1 Feb 2010

Please note: this is an old article

It was published in February 2010, so the information may be out-of-date.

Greater Shepparton City Council is praising the actions of swimmers and Aquamoves’ lifeguards who assisted a three-year-old child after a near drowning on Thursday afternoon.

Emergency care had to be given to a three-year-old boy found unconscious in the indoor leisure pool at Aquamoves at approximately 4.20pm on Thursday 29 January 2010.

Swimmers noticed the three-year-old and pulled the child to the side of the pool while alerting lifeguards.

Lifeguards, with the assistance of a nurse who was visiting the facility, resuscitated the boy and provided oxygen therapy as an ambulance was called to the site.

Paramedics took the young boy, who was moving in and out of consciousness, to the Goulburn Valley Health for further treatment. The child was released from hospital on Friday afternoon.

Council's Manager Leisure Facilities Tony Tranter praised the Council staff team whose quick and appropriate actions contributed to the positive outcome.

"Staff swiftly cleared the pool and asked around 150 people to vacate from the indoor area while they responded to the emergency," Mr Tranter said,

"Full emergency procedures were carried out by the staff, with management receiving praise from other families at the pool at the time.

"Council has been speaking to the family after the incident and they have passed on their thanks to all involved for their assistance.

"Council believes the child has made full recovery.

"At the time of the incident there were five Aquamoves lifeguards on duty and supervising the swimming pools as well as another six lifeguard qualified staff on duty.

"The presence of a large number of trained and qualified people who could quickly respond when the alarm was raised played a big part in the positive outcome.

"Council would also like to acknowledge and thank the swimmers whose vigilance and prompt action assisted the three-year-old and Fiona Hobbs, the nurse who provided additional support. The actions of the swimmers' and Fiona were courageous and they can be very proud that their actions most probably saved a life.

"This incident serves as a timely reminder for the constant need to be aware and vigilant around water.

"The role of the lifeguards is both proactive incident prevention and where required, emergency response.

"An incident such as this can occur both quickly and silently. It is not unlikely that the situation occurred in less than one minute and this is why the Royal Life Saving Society ‘Watch Around Water' message as promoted by Aquamoves and all other Greater Shepparton City Council aquatic facilities, is so important.

"The ‘Watch Around Water' campaign suggests that competent lifeguards acting responsibility should provide an important safety feature, but they are not intended to and cannot be expected to, replace the close supervision of parents and teachers which is required for many children, particularly school aged children or children who are not strong swimmers.

"Professional lifeguard supervision is only effective when supplemented by appropriate levels of ‘personal supervision'."

Personal supervision means that children under the age of 10 must be constantly accompanied by a parent/guardian who must position himself or herself to have a clear view of the child with no physical or structural barriers between them and the child and children under the age of five years must be constantly supervised by an adult. Adequate supervision requires the parent/guardian to accompany the child into the water and remain within arms reach of the child at all times.

- Released 1 February