As summer approaches, Highlanders are urged to actively supervise young children at all times around water to prevent drowning deaths.
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Royal Life Saving data shows the risk of drowning triples as soon as a child turns one.
In the past 17 years, 202 children aged one year have drowned.
"Almost all of these deaths were due to a lack of active adult supervision, and most incidents occurred in backyard swimming pools," CEO Justin Scarr said.
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"Additional data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that drowning is the number one cause of death in one-, two- and three-year-old children.
"Distractions are dangerous, and the consequences can be tragic."
Mr Scarr said drowning was often quick and silent and it took only a few moments for a child to slip away unnoticed, fall into water and drown.
"Drowning deaths in young children are wholly preventable," he said.
"Simple safety measures can make all the difference between a fun day and a tragedy.
"Help us to eliminate child drowning for once and for all by always keeping watch of children around water, and ensuring that you have a pool fence with a fully operational gate - and never leave that gate propped open.
"In addition, we urge parents and carers to learn how to resuscitate and teach their children water safety skills from an early age."
Royal Life Saving's vision is a water-loving nation free from drowning.
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Visit www.royallifesaving.com.au for more information.