Summer is here - and so is the peak season for child drownings, prompting a warning from Children’s Health Queensland and Surf Life Saving Queensland that it only takes seconds for a preventable tragedy to happen.
December and January are the highest risk months for drowning incidents in Australia, with Royal Life Saving Australia data showing one in three drowning deaths last year occurred during the summer school holidays.
In 2024, 45 children were treated in the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) emergency department following drowning incidents. More than half of these occurred in pools and two out of three children were younger than five years old.
To the end of November this year, there have been 43 emergency department presentations with six admitted to the intensive care unit for specialist care. Tragically, two of these children died.
Across Australia, drownings continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death for children aged 14 and under, with 26 fatal drownings in this age group in 2024. Almost one-third of these deaths (8) were Queensland children.1
Pools are the most common danger site for children aged four and under nationally, with just over half of all drowning deaths in this age group occurring in a swimming pool in 2024/25.2 For 5-14 year olds, the highest risk locations were rivers/creeks (39%) and beaches (20%).2
Queensland Children’s Hospital paediatric intensive care specialist Dr Paul Holmes said young children were most vulnerable to quick, silent drownings that can go unnoticed if they are not being constantly supervised.
“Young children have small lungs, which means they can’t hold their breath for very long. So, if they slip under the water, they can drown in a matter of seconds.
“Children who are struggling in the water cannot always wave or call out, and they quietly slip under the surface.
“That’s why constant and close supervision by a responsible adult is crucial when children are in or around water. It’s the only way to keep them safe. Relying on a child to tell adults when they are in trouble does not work.
Dr Holmes also warned parents about the danger of distraction: “Parents often tell us that they only looked away for a moment or that they were momentarily distracted by their phones or other digital device,” Dr Holmes said. “But that’s when tragic accidents can happen.”
Queensland beaches are another high-risk drowning location for children and young people every Summer.
Matt Thompson, General Manager of Public Safety and Emergency Management at Surf Life Saving Queensland, said the data showed too many children are still being rescued outside patrolled areas.
“Each year we continue to see preventable rescues involving children, and the majority of those happen outside the red and yellow flags. So far in 2025, more than 500 children aged 0–17 have needed rescuing outside patrolled zones - that’s more than four times the number rescued between the flags,” Mr Thompson said.
“When children enter the water unsupervised, even for a moment, the risk escalates dramatically. We want families to enjoy Queensland’s beaches, but the safest place to swim is always between the flags, where trained lifesavers and lifeguards are watching.”
Dr Holmes said providing first aid, specifically CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to a drowning victim as soon as possible can significantly improve their survival chances.
“The first minutes after a drowning are very important, and CPR should commence immediately after rescuing a victim from the water. CPR should be given to any child that appears lifeless, as their heart may have stopped beating.
“We recommend that all adults learn CPR, so they know what to do if a drowning occurs,” Dr Holmes said.
In a drowning emergency, always call 000 and ask for an ambulance.
ENDS
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- National Drowning Report 2025. Royal Life Saving Australia
Media contact: t: +61 0409 417 194 e: chqnews@health.qld.gov.au