Child Water Safety & Parental Supervision at the Beach

16 September 2008

4.15pm to 5.15pm

Venue: J2 Lecture Theatre, 74 Epsom Avenue, Epsom Campus

Presenter
Dr Kevin Moran
School of Critical Studies in Education

Title
"Child Water Safety & Parental Supervision at the Beach"

Abstract
Lack of appropriate supervision is a persistent risk factor in most child drowning incidents. The risks to young children associated with swimming at beaches places a premium on close and constant supervision by caregivers. Yet little is known about caregiver supervisory practice and perceptions of child water safety supervision and risk of drowning.

A cross-sectional survey of people who used public beaches throughout the upper North Island of New Zealand was conducted during the late summer period of 2007. Eighteen surf and flat-water beaches were selected because of their popularity and proximity to major urban concentrations of population. Adult beachgoers in charge of children were invited to complete a brief, self-complete, anonymous questionnaire of 21 questions related to their family’s water safety at the beach. Data gathering took place during 8 weekends and public holidays between January and March in the summer of 2007.

Of the 769 caregivers who took part in the study, 78% estimated that they could swim 100m in open water. Male caregivers were more likely to rate themselves and their 5-9-year-olds as good swimmers and less likely to estimate a high risk of drowning for that age group. While staying close to their children in the water was the most frequently reported behaviour (71%) when supervising under 5-year-olds, keeping a constant watch on them from the beach was the most frequently reported supervisory behaviour (46%) with 5-9-year-olds.

It is cause for concern that more than one quarter (29%) failed to provide appropriate supervision for their under 5-year-olds at the beach. Another concern was the shift in supervisory behaviour for the older children, with almost half (46%) of caregivers not providing close supervision.

To address these shortcomings in caregiver supervision, it is suggested that specific guidelines be developed by water safety organisations and promoted throughout the community especially in pre-summer season.