Drowning remains a major cause of preventable death in Western Australia. The cost of drowning to the broader community is around $65.5 million annually.
The Community Health Department of the Royal Life Saving Society works to reduce drowning incidents by identifying at risk populations and implementing intervention strategies within the community.
Community Health pursues its aim to reduce drowning, near-drowning and associated injury in the Western Australian community through the provision of a number of programs including:
- Keep Watch Toddler Drowning Prevention Campaign
- Watch Around Water Public Swimming Pools Safety Program
- Don't Drink and Drown: Alcohol and Water Safety campaign
- Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools Project
- Coastal Safety and Recreational Fishing Project
Latest Community Health News:
APRIL, 2008
Keep Watch Update April 08
Brenden Koh and Lauren Nimmo from RLSSWA’s Community Health Department have recently returned from a three day regional trip to the state’s South West region. They conducted three child safety forums with interested parents and held professional development sessions with child health nurses servicing the Manjimup, Bridgetown, Pemberton and Northcliffe areas. This trip was held in collaboration with Kidsafe WA and Farmsafe Alliance WA and was very successful in promoting toddler drowning prevention and child safety to professionals, parents and carers in the region.
Plans are ‘in the pipeline’ to hold another child safety forum and professional development later in ’08 in the Pilbarra region.
If you have any questions or need resources regarding the Keep Watch program, please email Brenden, bkoh@rlsswa.com.au or phone 9383 8200.
APRIL, 2008
Watch Around Water Update March 08
The Watch Around Water program has had a very successful 2007- 2008 summer campaign with membership of new pools growing within the state and interstate, with the pilot program in SA coming to an end and Lifesaving Victoria coming on board with the program. The program is Royal Life Saving Society’s (WA Branch) and the Leisure Institute of Western Australia's guardian supervision program, aimed at increasing parental supervision at public aquatic facilities, taking pressure off pool lifeguards enabling them to do their job more effectively.
Lauren Nimmo and James Stewart from RLSSWA’s Community Health Department have recently returned from a four day regional Wheat belt visit. From the 17th to the 20th of March nine Watch Around Water pools were visited, including Koorda, Merriden, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Kondinin, Hyden, Lake Grace, Narrogin, and Wundowie. RLS also visited two new pools, Moora and Northam, which is great news for the program. Thankyou to all the above pools for their feedback and support of the Watch Around Water program. From this trip a number of new and exiting ideas emerged that will be introduced to the program for next summer season.
The campaign, now in it’s forth year, is preparing for a re-vamp. In preparation for the 2008-2009 season a number of new resources have been developed and are currently being produced including brand new poster designs, and ‘out of the box’ stickers and promotional resources. This has been a direct result from feedback from registered WAW pools, and the recent regional trip- it’s fantastic to gather so many ideas to ensure the program is driven by the needs of the industry. If you would like more information on these resources or becoming a registered pool please email James (jstewart@rlsswa.com.au).
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