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No. 41 (December 1962)
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Safety in the Water

by S. V. Higgins

Maoris are twice as likely to die by drowning as other New Zealanders!

There are statistics to prove this startling fact. In the 12 months ended April 30, 1962, the 122 people who were drowned included 18 Maoris—one seventh of the total. But the Maori population is approximately one-fourteenth of the total population of New Zealand; the Maori drowning rate is therefore twice that for the whole population.

Six of the Maoris drowned during this time (one-third of the total) were 15 years or younger. Five were men between 21 and 30 and two were men in the 31–40 age group; some were married men with families.

The six children were all young lives full of promise which a growing race can ill afford to lose. How did they die? These tragedies can teach us how to keep young lives safe.

Two boys under five drowned while playing in water (a river and a lagoon) with other children, but without an adult or responsible teenager to look after them. You should never let toddlers near water of any sort without someone to protect them. To be absolutely sure they are safe when playing around the house, the yard must be securely fenced and the gate kept shut.

If possible all water hazards—wells, troughs, tanks, reservoirs, sheep dips, and drains, as well as creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds and pools dangerously close to the house—should be made harmless by fencing them off. When you can, cover them over.

Children Need Watching

How many water hazards are there on or near your property? It would pay to look round and do something about it. Prompt action could save lives.

Three older children, aged between 5 and 10, drowned while swimming. It is hard for parents with large families of young, adventurous children to keep their eyes on them all the time, but it is surely better to let the work suffer than to lose a child.

The loss of seven men in the prime of life was also a tragedy for the Maori race. One drowned when a dinghy was swamped while negotiating

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treacherous seas at a river mouth. Another man, and a married woman in her forties, were killed when a dinghy was swamped in a swell.

Care In Boats

If you use small boats you shouldn't go out when the sea is rough or the weather is threatening. Your boat should be in good condition and properly equipped. Even an outboard runabout needs oars and rowlocks, in case the motor breaks down. An anchor, rope, a spare bung, and a bailer are also essential.

Everyone in a boat should wear a lifejacket. None of the 39 people drowned in accidents to small boats last year was wearing a lifejacket. They might all be alive now if they had.

In another accident, youths clung to a capsized canoe and were saved. The other man tried to swim to the shore, and drowned. If a boat capsizes and doesn't sink, it is safer to cling to it than to try to swim to the shore. A man clinging to a boat will find it easier to stay afloat and will be easier for rescuers to find.

The hazards of swimming in rivers were illustrated by the drowning of two teenage youths. A young girl, who had been swimming with the boys, said that one went to the middle of the river and the other to the opposite side. The youth in midstream began calling for help but the girl, thinking he was fooling, left the water and walked along the bank. When she returned both boys had disappeared. Still thinking she was being teased, the girl did not call help until more than an hour had passed.

Watch River Snags

When you swim in rivers, creeks and streams, first look for underwater snares—snags, logs, branches, boulders, or thick weed growth. They can be fatal traps. The old swimming hole can never be taken for granted; rivers change all the time and quickly. The place that was safe yesterday can be dangerous today.

Everyone with his own safety and the safety of his loved ones at heart will want to learn more about water safety. Booklets about water safety and safety in small boats can be obtained free of charge by writing to the National Water Safety Committee, Department of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington. The Committee will also send a free leaflet about rescue breathing, the simplest and most effective method of reviving people who have apparently drowned, to those who ask for it.