Near-drowning: Prognoses and prevention

Drowning is a significant and preventable cause of death in children across the world. Early indicators for 2001–2 suggest that at least 251 incidents occurred in Australia, with 44 of these being children under five years old (The Royal Life Saving Society Australia, 2002). This figure is down by 25% from the previous five-year average. However, the loss of 44 young children in preventable water related incidents is 44 too many.

Seventy-five percent of paediatric drowning deaths in the 0–5 year age group were due to the child falling or wandering into the water (Langley, 2001). Because children of this age are curious, the message to all is that children need to be kept under constant supervision when near water.