The water and summer tend to go hand in hand in Australia.
I don’t think a day went by this past month or so when I didn’t know at least a couple of people going to the beach or hanging out in their backyard pool.
Even I, a known beach hater, spent a couple of days in the ocean last week – keeping a firm eye on potential shark threats, of course (us bigger blokes are a rare treat for those ferocious beasts).
Our natural love affair with the water has, however, been put under threat this summer with a tragic number of drownings dominating the news headlines and rivalling that of the road toll, which is highly unusual.
With almost two dozen drownings over the holidays in New South Wales alone, there is very little doubt that we have a significant problem.
And it all comes down to two things: parental responsibility and education.
We tragically saw a number of incidents over the summer in which young babies or toddlers died or were seriously injured after being found in swimming pools.
No amount of swimming lessons, education campaigns or money is going to prevent such drownings.
When it comes to children so young, the only thing that will stop tragedies like this is if a responsible adult is watching them for every second that they are around water.
I can understand how such incidents occur. A phone call here, a text message there, a load of washing to be hung out – it is so very easy to be distracted.
But all the excuses in the world don’t change the end result.
Last week, News Limited papers ran a troubling story about a trend emerging where reckless parents are dumping their children at the beach or deserting them in shopping centres so they can do everything from getting their nails done to having coffee with friends.
A number of pet stores confirmed this is a pretty regular trend, while lifeguards said they often run into situations where families simply drop their young kids off at the beach and head to nearby shopping centres.
If parents are willing to do that in public places, who knows what they’re likely to do at home when it comes to the backyard pool.
Not all parents should be tarred with the same brush and in fact, only a very small minority do the wrong thing.
But it is just so important that we continue to drive home the message of responsible parenting.
It is the single most important thing we can do to reduce drownings by babies and toddlers in backyard pools.
Of course, not all the drowning deaths in Australia this summer were toddlers in swimming pools.
We have a much wider problem and it comes down to our overall general education when it comes to water safety.
I agree with those calling for the Federal Government to intervene and introduce a national water safety program through our schools.
Water is so intrinsically linked to the Australian way of life that there should not be one child who finishes primary school without knowing how to swim.
Private swimming lessons are excellent, but they can be expensive and particularly in the western parts of Sydney, the cost factor can often be a reason why some kids miss out completely.
Our education system needs significant reform, and water and road safety should be a mandatory part of the curriculum.