Kidsafe Victoria has released a National RED ALERT to all Members of Parliament and water authorities over the high level of drowning risk to toddlers in homes storing water in buckets.

Dr Mark Stokes, President of Kidsafe Victoria said, ”With governments and water authorities all over Australia urging the community to collect water in buckets from the shower there needs to be a national awareness campaign alerting parents to the drowning dangers of storing water”.

“There are millions of buckets of water being stored in homes every day in Australia with each bucket representing a potential drowning situation or near drowning which can leave children with severe brain damage”.

“Many parents are unaware of the risk with the main focus being on saving water.”

“We believe the Governments and Water Authorities should immediately add warnings over the dangers to toddlers on their water restriction advertising and on their website front pages during water restrictions.”

Dr Stokes said that with the severe water restrictions in Melbourne people are finding all sorts of ways to store and move water including buckets and wheelie bins which are particularly dangerous when filled with water.

“If a child climbed and fell into a wheelie bin head first the shape of the bin and its depth would mean the child’s body would remain head down”.

“With people wanting to collect water over sized buckets such as nappy buckets have become popular, and without a lid these buckets are a major risk.”

Kidsafe Victoria is urging parents across Australia to immediately assess how they are storing water, and to remove drowning hazards such as buckets of water.

“Isolate the buckets of water from your children or empty buckets immediately to protect children is our clear and simple life saving message.”

“Parents who are visiting with toddlers should also carry out a check to see if any buckets of water are stored in the home they are visiting,” Dr Stokes said.