Get ‘water-wise’ for summer

“Play it safe and take a mate”, is the message lifesavers want older Australians to hear this summer when they go swimming, fishing or boating.

Royal Life Saving chief executive, Rob Bradley, tells DPS News a friend or family member should accompany older Australians when they venture near water this summer.

The warning to be careful in the water comes after an alarming increase in the number of people over 55 years of age who have drowned in the past year. The startling statistics are revealed in a Royal Life Saving drowning deaths report, which shows 315 people drowned in 2010-11, the majority being men – with about 117 who were aged 55 years or older.

The report also shows there were 46 drowning deaths in the 55 to 64 years age group, 32 aged 65 to 74 years and 39 in the 75 years of age group.

“We’ve found with the ageing population, there are more people in retirement and more people retiring near aquatic locations, and spending more time in, or near, the water,” Mr Bradley says.

“There’s the opportunity to get into trouble in the water… and this [report] is really a caution to older Australians who need to be aware of their water skills and abilities,” he adds.

According to Mr Bradley, the ultimate message is to “never swim alone”; and adds while this caution is applicable to all age groups; it is particularly important to older Australians.

“A lot of older Australians have health issues and we’re finding that this is one of the reasons for drowning, as well as the difficulty in overestimating their ability as some may place themselves in dangerous situations,” he says.

The report states medical conditions play a role in drowning deaths of older people, and those aged over 55 years should check the possible side-effects of medication to reduce the risk of drowning.

While Mr Bradley says the government is investing in preventive measures, it is ultimately up to the community to “be aware of the potential dangers when swimming, boating or fishing”.

Royal Life Saving also has a program to help older Australians stay ‘water wise’, with its Grey Medallion program which is a refresher course on water safety skills and building the strength and fitness levels of people aged 55 years and over.

The program includes a CPR component, which Mr Bradley says is a vitally important skill for everyone to acquire – regardless of age.

How ‘water-wise’ are you? What do you think of the Royal Life Saving’s drowning deaths report? Share your thoughts by commenting in the box below.