Child’s near-drowning at Balga Leisurepark prompts warning to parents over poolside mobile phone use

Distracted parents are being told to stop using their phones while at public swimming pools, after a seven-year-old nearly drowned at the Balga Leisurepark earlier this month.

The incident, which forced the closure of the Balga Leisurepark for several hours last Monday, saw the child dragged from a pool unconscious.

As reported by The West Australian, the incident has prompted the City of Stirling to urge parents and carers using its facilities to put their mobile phones away and keep an eye on their children while in the water.

A City of Stirling spokeswoman confirmed that the incident had seen a lifeguard notice the boy in the 25-metre pool requiring assistance, advising “the young child was pulled from the water by the lifeguard and emergency care commenced while an ambulance was called.

“On the ambulance’s arrival the child had regained consciousness and was placed in the recovery position.

“A qualified bystander assisted with resuscitation efforts. The patient appeared conscious upon leaving the centre and was transported to hospital under normal road conditions.”

Over almost two decades, the Leisure Institute of WA (LIWA) Aquatics and Royal Life Saving Society WA have highlighted the dangers of parents being distracted by mobile phones while their children are using aquatic facilities.

Promoting the message ‘Lifeguards are not Babysitters’, the organisations’ Watch Around Water program was introduced in 2004 - since which time have been no drowning deaths involving young children at public swimming pools in Western Australia.

A City of Stirling spokeswoman said on top of lifeguard supervision, its six aquatic facilities followed the Watch Around Water program.

The spokeswoman advised “the program encourages all parents, guardians and caregivers to be within arm’s reach of their children within the pool and to remain vigilant and away from distractions including mobile phones.

“Watch Around Water is an education and awareness campaign run at public swimming pools that aims to reduce drowning and aquatic injuries among children through improved parental supervision.”

Images: The Balga Leisurepark (top) and LIWA Aquatics and Royal Life Saving Society WA highlighting the dangers of parents being distracted by mobile phones while their children are using aquatic facilities (below).