Rural waters: Is it time for compulsory life jackets?

5th January 2015

Drowning in Rural Water ways lead Summer stats

Hannah’s Foundation, Drowning Prevention, Awareness and support charity is calling for more awareness to the wearing of Life jackets in rural waterways to reduce drowning.

Mrs Plint, Executive Officer said “This summer we have seen more statistics in rivers, creeks and dams and the reason for this is the choices of not wearing life jackets.”

She said “Mandated regulations don’t require persons to wear life jackets unless they are in vessels but we are seeing strong swimmers, kids on inflatable objects and adults rescuing children getting into trouble and drowning.”

“It’s time to review the legislation and make Life Jackets compulsory for those in rural waterways to reduce drowning. You are unlikely to drown in a water way wearing a life jacket and more public education needs to be done”

“Life Jackets your seat belt on the water ® has been our campaign since 2009 and with social media resources at our limit financially we are calling on the Media, Federal and State Governments to help promote the messages”

Mr Plint, Founding Director said “Frustration is only hearing the messages of safety after a fatality or that a search has commenced. Prevention is the only cure, Australians need to be educated on the dangers of waters and the myths that surround water”

“Many myths such as ‘I can swim I can’t drown’, ‘Life jackets aren’t fool proof’ were both misleading comments on social media by armchair experts” he said.

Mrs Plint said “Coronial inquests provide us with the evidence on how tragedies occur. Water ways vary in temperatures and depths and they can change very quickly. One minute you are in 25 degree water and at waist depth then next you are at 18 degrees and over your head and drowning. Survival skills are put to the test in this situation and many swimmers just aren’t skilled enough to get themselves out of the changed environment.”

“Tragedies can be avoided by the wearing of life jackets, making sure all supervisors count the number of persons in the water, even supervised swimmers can drown and by the time it’s realised they are missing under water many minutes have passed”

“Children under 12 or poor swimmers must wear a life jacket to prevent further tragedy” She said.

For more information www.hannahsfoundation.org.au

Media interviews with Katherine Plint on 0423 869 063 (location is Ipswich QLD)

Life Jackets – Your Seat Belt on the Water Launched

November 27, 2013 by admin

LIFE JACKETS – YOUR SEAT BELT ON THE WATER.®

Hannah’s Foundation Drowning Prevention, Awareness and Support charity launches its “Life Jackets – Your Seat Belts on the water”® with author Kat Plint saying;

“This summer we hope to raise the bar on awareness to drowning prevention in our inland water ways”

“Since 2009 this campaign has only been through our Positive Choices Program but now all the steps are in place and four years later this campaign will be the leading campaign for Inland Waterways in Qld.”

“I wrote the campaign based on coronial inquests, speaking to the families of victims and designing an effective poster to incorporate the dusk scenario, a rescue helicopter and a dam of water with rescuers.” Mrs Plint said.

“The campaigns slogans are: ‘We can’t see you if you aren’t wearing your life Jacket’, “Life Jackets – Your seat belt on the water” ® and “Just because you can swim doesn’t mean you Can’t drown’ all very simple messages of fact when on the water”

Mrs Plint also states “People on the water need to realise that a life jacket is the only back up to supervision on the water, we just can’t rely on our swimming skills to saves us if a boat capsizes or you fall into water and get into trouble. More often than not exhaustion and drowning will claim a life as opposed to hypothermia and drowning.”

“Boating accidents involve craft being swamped or overturning and there is a huge risk of being knocked unconscious whilst in the water, wearing the appropriate fitted rated life jacket may just be the difference between life and death.” Mrs Plint said.

“The Campaign messages are simple, concise and consistent to what Hannah’s Foundation has been advocating for Waterways since 2008” Mrs Plint said.

The Campaign messages are:

1. Never go swimming, fishing or boating alone or without a life jacket
2. Never Mix boating, fishing or swimming with ALCOHOL, Drinking and drowning contributes to over 76 men drowning each year
3. Inland waterways are dangerous respect the water
4. Tell people where you are going and have EPIRBS on board
5. If you can’t see in the water you are in then rescuers can’t find you. Always wear a life jacket in Inland waterways.

Mrs Plint also stated “Also people on the water must be aware that are many different types of life jackets for all purposes on the water and people need to know the difference.”

“I call upon all parents and all adults this summer to make sure this summer that if you are in inland water way to ensure that children even in shallow water are wearing a Life jacket and make sure they are done up correctly and are appropriately to the persons weight”

“Hannah’s Foundation is proud to launch this campaign with Posters, cards, coolers and wristbands to help get the message out to Qld Dams and public areas to help reduce fatalities on the water. Currently there is no sponsor despite our efforts to seek one and this campaign we believe should be a nationally funded campaign as well as public Loan Life Jackets programs around inland water ways.”

“There is no cure for drowning only prevention and this awareness aim is to target the shocking statistics seen over the last six years since we have been operational as educators in drowning prevention and reduce fatalities on the water.” She said.

LAUNCH at Wivenhoe Dam Logan’s Inlet with SEQWater Safety Day at 11am

Founders Andrew Plint and Author of the Life Jackets Campaign Katherine Plint will be available for comment by media.

For further information contact Kat Plint 0423 869 063