LEADING safety agencies have urged regional families to set up safe play areas and actively supervise children around water, in a bid to reduce the number of drowning incidents on farms.

The call comes during National Farm Safety Week, from Kidsafe Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, and Farmsafe Australia, which runs this year from July 14-20.

Drowning has remained one of the leading causes of child deaths on farms.

According to the latest statistics from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s National Drowning Report, 26 per cent of toddler (0-4 years) drownings in 2022/23 occurred in inland waterways such as lakes, dams, rivers, and creeks.

That figure rose to 43 per cent in the 5-14-year age group.

General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, Jason Chambers said that farms have several unique hazards which are not commonly found in a suburban home, including bodies of water.

“Farms and regional properties often contain a number of different bodies of water such as dams, troughs, irrigation channels, water tanks, rivers and lakes, all which can pose a potential drowning hazard for children,” he said.

“Creating a safe play area that is away from water and other farm hazards such as animals and machinery, is a great way to provide kids with a safe place to explore.”

In 2020, Shepparton mother Ash Napolitano endured every parent’s worst nightmare when her two-year-old son, Hunter, drowned in a dam on a Goulburn Valley farm.

In honour of their son, Ash and Matt established the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim program with Kidsafe Victoria to provide children in need in the Goulburn Valley region with free swimming lessons and water safety education.

Life Saving Victoria Research and Evaluation manager, Dr Hannah Calverley emphasised the significance of teaching children how to swim and having an emergency plan to ensure their safety around water.

“We urge all families to prioritise enrolling children in swim classes to learn water safety and to keep their first aid and CPR qualifications current,” she said.

Farmsafe Australia chairperson, Felicity Richards highlighted the important role that active adult supervision plays in keeping children safe on the farm.

“Always keep children within arm’s reach and ensure they are never left alone near hazardous areas such as machinery, animals, or water sources,” she said.

“Being physically close allows you to respond instantly if a dangerous situation arises.”

Farm water safety tips

• Make sure children are actively always supervised by an adult when in or around water. For toddlers, this means having an adult within arm’s reach.

• Set up a safe play area away from water hazards such as dams. The play area should be securely fenced, located close to the house, and equipped with adequate shade, as well as a range of fun and engaging activities for children.

• Enrol children in learn to swim classes.

• Ensure that water storage areas, such as wells and tanks, are securely covered.

• Where practical, remove items floating in dams that may attract children into the water.

• Dress children in brightly coloured clothing to help them be seen when on farms.

• Fill in unused holes where water can gather, such as ditches, dips, and post holes.

• Learn CPR and regularly update your skills.

For more information on farm safety and the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program, please visit kidsafevic.com.au