International Guidelines for Open Water Safety

An international task force has announced new guidelines for open water safety.

The guidelines emphasise swimming and water safety survival skills for everyone and provide strategies for those who are responsible for children or other persons while recreating in open water. 

Drowning is a major cause of injury death for all ages. According to the World Health Organisation's most recent World Report on Child Injury Prevention, approximately 28% of all unintentional injury deaths among children are due to drowning. (In New Zealand, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death [behind motor vehicle incidents] for the under-25 age group). 

In response to these alarming statistics, the international task force on open water drowning prevention made up of 18 drowning prevention experts from 12 countries has established guidelines for families and individuals recreating at any open water site.

As Kevin Moran, PhD, Task Force Co-Chair, University of Auckland Faculty member and Chairman of WaterSafe Auckland explains “families and individuals immigrate or travel internationally. We wanted to create a list of guidelines useful for both groups to use whenever they are around open water." 

Teresa Stanley, WaterSafe Auckland's Business Manager and the second New Zealand member of the international task force adds "WaterSafe Auckland applauds these guidelines but also stresses the importance of thinking skills going hand in hand with the physical skills of swimming and survival.

"These messages will be a discussion topic at our upcoming Regional Water Safety Education and Drowning Prevention Forum."

Australian representatives on the international task force include Richard Franklin of Royal Life Saving – Australia and Peter George of Surf Life Saving Australia.

The Guidelines recommend:

Keep Yourself Safe

• Learn swimming and water safety survival skills.
• Always swim with others.
• Obey all safety signs and warning flags.
• Never go in the water after drinking alcohol.
• Know how and when to use a life jacket.
• Swim in areas with lifeguards.
• Know the water and weather conditions before getting in the water.
• Always enter shallow and unknown water feet first.

Keep Children and Others Safe

• Help and encourage others, especially children, to learn swimming and water safety survival skills.
• Swim in areas with lifeguards.
• Set water safety rules.
• Always provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water.
• Know how and when to use life jackets, especially with children and weak swimmers.
• Learn first aid and CPR.
• Learn safe ways of rescuing others without putting yourself in danger.
• Obey all safety signs and warning flags.

For more information on water safety and drowning prevention go to www.ilsf.org/index.php?q=about/drowning.htm 

http://www.ilsf.org/index.php?q=about/drowning.htm