Five water safety habits every Canberra parent should know this summer
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It’s 38 degrees, and the kids are doing bombs into the pool. You’re trying to remember if you actually put sunscreen on anyone, and somewhere in the chaos, your phone is buzzing with messages.
Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. But when it comes to summer, water, and kids, it’s worth pausing to get a few safety habits in place.
A recent report tracking drowning prevention across Australia found that 357 people drowned last year. That’s the highest toll in more than 20 years. But before we all spiral into worst-case-scenario mode, here’s the good news: most drowning incidents are preventable. And it doesn’t require bubble-wrapping our kids or hovering like helicopter parents. It just takes a few habits that – once they’re part of the routine – become second nature.
Ditch the “I can see them from here” approach
Real drowning looks nothing like the movies. There’s no dramatic splashing, no yelling for help. It’s silent, and it can happen in as little as 20 seconds. A child’s body will prioritise breathing over waving their arms. This means that by the time we notice something’s off, it might already be too late.
Active supervision means being within arm’s reach – not watching through the kitchen window while the pasta boils. Eyes on, hands on. Every single time. Whether we’re at home, at Manuka Pool on a Saturday morning, or doing laps at the AIS while the kids splash in the leisure pool, the rule stays the same.
Adopt the ‘Water Watcher system’ at gatherings
BBQs? Birthday parties? Lunch with the cousins? These are the prime drowning-risk situations. Why? Because when everyone assumes someone else is watching, nobody actually is. We’ve all done it.
The fix is simple: one designated adult wears a lanyard or silly hat (embrace it) and does nothing but watch the kids near water. No phone, no wine, no getting roped into a conversation about property prices (your sister-in-law will survive without your opinion on her renovation plans). Rotate every 15 minutes so attention stays sharp.
It feels a bit over the top until you realise how quickly fifteen minutes fly by when you’re actually paying attention.
Know the new pool rules
Did you know that the ACT rolled out major pool safety reforms in May 2024? All home pools and spas need compliant barriers by 2028, and yes, this includes inflatable pools deeper than 30cm. Fines hit $5,500 for non-compliance, so it’s worth checking our fences, gates, and making sure nothing climbable is within 900mm of the barrier.
For those of us with classic Canberra backyards that slope in seventeen different directions, barrier compliance can get tricky. If in doubt, get an inspection done sooner rather than later.
Empty everything
Toddlers can drown in as little as 5cm of water. Pet bowls, buckets, eskies with melted ice, that forgotten clam shell in the backyard – all genuine hazards.
Make it a habit to tip out any standing water after use. Tedious? Slightly. Worth it? Absolutely. It takes thirty seconds, and then we never have to think about it again.
Keep the lessons going
Swimming lessons are brilliant as they’re associated with an 88 per cent reduction in drowning risk for one to four-year-olds. But don’t think that a few terms of lessons means our kids are water safe. In fact, nearly half of drowning victims aged 10 to17 were actually capable swimmers. Lessons build skills, but they don’t replace supervision. And skills fade without practice, so it’s worth keeping them enrolled longer than we think we need to.
This summer, embrace being the parent who stays poolside. You’ll miss a few texts, your wine might get warm, and you’ll definitely hear about that family drama second-hand. But your kids will have countless safe, joy-filled days in the water, and honestly, that’s the whole point.
Make ‘Eyes on, hands on’ your summer mantra. It’s simple, it works, and it means everyone gets to enjoy the water the way summer is meant to be enjoyed.
Feature image: Cor Dulce
