THURSDAY December 1 was the first day of summer and National Water Safety Day.

This is a great opportunity for us to remind all Australians of the importance of being safe in and around the water.
In 2020, Surf Life Saving successfully worked with the Australian Government to dedicate December 1 to raising awareness of an issue, which impacts every community across the country.

Australians love the water and each year there are over 500 million visitations to 11,500 beaches across 52,000 kilometres of coastline.

As detailed in the SLSA 2022 National Coastal Safety Report, tragically there were 141 coastal drowning deaths across the country.

This grim figure is the highest number recorded and reinforces how important it is that we continue to promote our key safety messages and supply information to help reduce drowning deaths and injuries across the country.

Last summer alone (December – February), 61 people lost their lives due to drowning.

This accounted for just under half (43 percent) of all coastal drowning deaths across 2021-22.

Tips for staying safe in the water this summer

1. Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags
2. Wear a lifejacket if you are going boating, rock fishing, or on a watercraft
3. Avoid alcohol and drugs while undertaking water activities
4. Always supervise children on, in and around water at all times
5. Check weather conditions before heading out
6. Visit www.beachsafe.org.au