A spike in drownings in inland waterways is causing concern for communities and local authorities.
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While the message about swimming between the flags at the beach, along with highly visible information campaigns about spotting and avoiding rips seems to be working, there appears to be a complacency about swimming in the seemingly calmer conditions of inland waters that belies the inherent dangers.
Operations manager for Royal Life Saving, Craig Roberts, said that the inland swimming environment was highly changeable, with currents, undertows and unseen objects in the water.
The two weeks of high temperatures immediately following Christmas may be partly responsible for the spike in drownings, as people flocked to swimming spots over the Christmas-New Year holiday period.
There has also been an increase in incidents involving men in the 18-35 age group.
Speaking to SBS News last week, federal Sports Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said that there was a tendency for these men to “think they are invincible”, adding that young men “also respond to looking after their mates”.
According to Mr Roberts, the most dangerous way to try to assist someone who is in trouble in the water is to go in after them.
“The best thing to do if someone is in trouble is to throw them something to hang on to,” he said.
“A flotation device of some sort, an esky lid, anything; or try to get a rope or branch to them.”
The most recent death, a 35-year-old man who drowned at Casuarina Sands in the ACT, has sparked calls for lifeguards at the popular swimming spot.
More than 20 other swimmers attempted to rescue the man when it became apparent he was in trouble.
According to police, the man was swimming with his family in full view of others when he went underwater and did not resurface.
It is not believed that drugs or alcohol were a factor.
In the 2017-18 reporting period, Royal Life Saving reports that of the 249 people who drowned, 33 were in swimming pools, 81 were in inland waterways and 135 in coastal waters.
So far this summer, in NSW and the ACT, 18 people have drowned: 16 male and two female, with six of those deaths occurring in inland waters.
Given that 80 percent of the Australian population lives within 50 kilometres of the coast, and that beaches are the prime holiday destination of most Australians, the rising proportion of people dying in inland waterways is of concern.
With another week of hot weather coming up the local swimming holes and beaches on the Shoalhaven are sure to be popular.
Mr Roberts recommends that swimmers use a life jacket and should never swim alone.
Ideally, there should be someone present with a working knowledge of CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) and that swimmers avoid alcohol before swimming.
Mr Roberts said that in 66pc of inland drownings, alcohol is a factor, and the RLS recommends the same alcohol limit as for driving. “Higher than .05 and a person’s judgement becomes impaired and responses become slower,” he said.
For information on inland swimming safety, he also recommended the RLS website ‘Respect the River’:
- royallifesaving.com.au/programs/respect-the-river