The drought in Australia has heightened the risk of drowning especially for young children around drainage channels Kidsafe Victoria said today

Dr Mark Stokes President of Kidsafe Victoria said “literally thousands of kilometers of open drain networks and creeks throughout Australia which have remained dry during the drought can become deadly with a short but intense rain storm kilometers away.

The recent tragic drowning of a six year old boy in Queensland who was sucked into a storm water drain on the 28^th of December follows another tragic drowning last year of a young boy in Hawthorn in a swollen drainage channel which was linked to the Yarra.

Both of these related to flooding open drainage channels  

 Dr Stokes said,” the lack of rain meant many people had become complacent about the dangers of water channels and drains both in the city and the country.”

“We urge parents to make sure that they educate their children about the dangers of entering any area where there is flowing water or playing in drains which can quickly fill with water.”

Parents taking children on holidays especially into country and seaside areas should be conscious of any streams or dams which are located close to where their family is staying.

 Dr Stokes also said the drought had increased the use of backyard swimming pools in hot weather another major danger area for drowning of babies and toddlers.

Our message is for parents are to ensure that their children do not have access to swimming pools without adult supervision and the swimming pool is fenced effectively .”