23/12/1999

During the holiday season throughout Australia thousands of pool parties will be held as family and friends celebrate the festive season. Christmas Day to the New Year period is a normally very dangerous period.

In the past and at the beginning of this season some of these parties have proven to be fatal for young children and a lifelong tragedy for families.

This tragedy not only extends to those children who die, but also for the forgotten victims who survive and have serious brain damage.

On average twelve toddlers drown every year in Victoria and another 46 will survive a near-drowning incident, but some of these will suffer brain damage.

Kidsafe, as part of its ongoing backyard pool safety campaign is staging a Kidsafe Pool Party in partnership with the Melbourne Ambulance Service to alert parents and the general community to the safety planning involved in holding a pool party.

Media Enquiries:
Ed Szwaja Kidsafe (03) 94271008
Liz Tunnecliffe, Manager Public Relations, Metropolitan Ambulance Service 0419 338 959
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 98185700

Story Dedication

This medialaunch is dedicated to call takers such as Intergraph call taker Jim Pickering, paramedics and medical staff of hospitals who save lives everyday throughout the world, and to a brave mother Joanne who agreed to the release of this tape to warn other parents of the dangers of water and toddlers about the home.
Shirley Baynes-Smith
Managing Editor medialaunch.com.au