With the temperatures soaring into the highs 30s and low 40s this Australia Day long weekend and beyond, people will take respite near water.

Whether it be around the backyard pool or a local waterway, Kids Alive and Ambulance Victoria are urging people to be careful in and around water this weekend.

The call comes amid 31 drownings since the start of summer, with the season accounting for 39 per cent of all drowning deaths in Australia and, tragically, 54 per cent of drownings among children under five.

Kids Alive founder Laurie Lawrence said parties were a ‘’danger zone’’ for toddlers because adults often assume someone else was watching the children.

‘’Parties are a real danger zone for toddlers because when the music is playing, people are talking, and there’s alcohol around, everyone thinks someone else is watching the kids,’’ he said.

‘’It is easy for supervision to slip, and it only takes a few silent seconds for a child to get into serious trouble.’’

Ambulance Victoria acting executive director regional operations Michael Georgiou said paramedics witnessed first-hand how quickly a fun day out could turn into a life-threatening emergency.

“Everyone is at risk of drowning — even strong swimmers and people who know an area well,” Mr Georgiou said.

‘’Be aware of your current abilities and don’t underestimate the risks around water.

“We work closely with our emergency service partners to keep people safe, but everyone has a responsibility to look after themselves and each other.”

Mr Georgiou said taking simple precautions could reduce the risk of serious injury or tragedy.

“Always watch children closely when they are in or around water. Ensure under fives are always within your arm’s reach and children aged five to 10 are always in your line of sight,” he said.

“Most importantly, if you are planning to spend time around waterways people can prepare themselves by knowing how to get help in remote areas and learning CPR.’’

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Sunday, 8th January 2023

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