Drowning

Key Safety Messages:

Ages 0-2 years - Always maintain hand contact with babies and stay within sight and reach of your child in the bath.

Ages 1-5 years - Stay within sight and reach of your child when in, on and around water.

Actively supervise your kids when they are in, on and around water.

Use four-sided pool fencing with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

Drowning is one of the major causes of injury-related death to children in New Zealand, accounting for 16.5% of all fatal unintentional injuries to 0-14 year olds. Each year, on average 15 children aged 0 - 14 years of age drown. Toddlers and young children aged less than 5 years are most at risk. Each year, on average 37 children are hospitalised following a near drowning event.

Safekids focuses on five key areas to promote water safety for children aged 0-14 years: active supervision; water hazards in and around the home; learn to swim programmes; lifejackets and personal flotation devices; and pool fencing.

Click the links below to access useful child drowning injury information, prevention and advice.

Factsheets