Men targeted in drowning prevention campaign
According to the National Drowning Report from Royal Life Saving Australia, 281 people drowned in Australian waterways in 2023 and 77% of those were male.
This year to mark Global Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, Royal Life Saving Australia is asking all Aussies – especially males – to look after their mates when they are around water.
The campaign - Make the Right Call to Make Your Mates Safe - is directed at men aged 25-45 years and calls on them to understand the risks and consequences of their actions when recreating in, on and around water.
It cautions them to be particularly careful drinking alcohol when they are around water, through relatable, light-hearted videos of mates hanging out near a river.
“Even small amounts of alcohol can effect behaviour and ability, increasing the risk of drowning,” warns the campaign.
The video vignettes warn blokes to wear a lifejacket when on the water and to avoid going alone, as adult males are more likely to participate in aquatic recreational activity alone than any other demographic.
Included in Make the Right Call are stories of confident swimmers, who either drowned or were disabled by unexpected water events.
Jason Ballerini enjoyed a familiar swimming spot off the Murray River, where he jumped off a log overhanging the water “thousands of times.” One day, the sandbank shifted, and he dived from the metre high log in 50cm of water. Unable to move, he lay underwater and was eventually pulled to the edge of the riverbank, however he is now unable to walk or stand and has no feeling from the chest down.
Read more stories on the Royal Life Saving Australia website
RLSA says 41 of alcohol-related drowning deaths occur in rivers and creeks. These are more likely to occur during public holidays, and more occur in the evening and early morning compared to other times of the day.
The Global World Drowning Prevention Day message is “Anyone can drown, no one should.”
Last year, landmarks across Australia turned blue on 25 July to serve as a reminder that drowning does not discriminate, and to remember those who have been lost to drowning.
This year RLSA is asking people to go blue from July 1, and to share its WDP resources on social channels.
Landmarks that previously ‘turned blue’ were:
ACT - National Film and Sound Archive, John Gorton Building, Old Parliament House, The National Carillion, The Treasury Building, Questacon, Ian Potter Learning Centre
NT – Darwin Convention Centre, City of Darwin Civic Centre, The fountain on Speaker’s Green Parliament House, The Palmerston Water Tower, Recreation Centre, Library and Frances Light Pole
QLD – Brisbane Story Bridge, Townsville Sign, Victoria Bridge, Wharton Reef Lighthouse, George Roberts Bridge, Old Magistrates Court House, Central Park Boardwalk, Little Fletcher Bridge, Tropical Dome, Wickham Terrace Car Park, City Hall, The Redcliff Place Steam Sculptures
SA – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Riverbank Footbridge
TAS –Wrest Point Hotel, Hobart Waterfront and Tasman Bridge
VIC – Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne City Baths
WA – Matagarup Bridge (the new bridge crossing to Optus Stadium), Council House, Joondalup Driver Bridge, Mount Street Bridge, Northbridge Tunnel, Sky Ribbon, Mandurah Bridge, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre