In repsonse to some alarming statistics, an international task force on open water drowning prevention has established guidelines for families and individuals recreating at any open water site.

According to the World Health Organisation's most recent World Report approximately 28 percent of all unintentional injury deaths among children are due to drowning.

In New Zealand drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for the under-25 age group and per capita we drowning at a rate (3.3 per 100 000) twice that of Australia (1.5 per 100 000).

The guidelines emphasise swimming and water safety survival skills for everyone and provide strategies for those who are responsible for children or other persons while recreating in open water.

"Families and individuals immigrate or travel internationally. We wanted to create a list of guidelines useful for both groups to use whenever they are around open water," says Kevin Moran, PhD, task force co-chair, University of Auckland Faculty member and chairman of WaterSafe Auckland.

"WaterSafe Auckland applauds these guidelines but also stresses the importance of thinking skills going hand in hand with the physical skills of swimming and survival," says Teresa Stanley, WaterSafe Auckland's Business Manager and second NZ member of the international task force.

"These messages will be a discussion topic at our upcoming Regional Water Safety Education and Drowning Prevention Forum."

9.15am - 12.30pm
Wednesday 19 May
Marine Rescue Centre
3 Solent St, Mechanics Bay, Auckland  
Contact sue.fitzpatrick@watersafe.org.nz to register your interest.

Visit our Community Safety page for the full press release and guidelines.