Don't Mix Alcohol With Water Activities This Year

With temperatures set to soar across the country, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia is urging people not to mix alcohol and water activities.

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia has released a new data that reveals 2,760 men over the age of 18 fatally drowned in the past 15 years. Of these, 492 cases (18% of drownings) were known to involve alcohol.

The combination of warmer weather and celebrations around water can be deadly, with January recording the highest number of alcohol related drowning deaths.

The Royal Life Saving Society - Australia with support of the Federal Government, is launching the ‘Don’t Let Your Mates Drink and Drown’ campaign, to remind men of the serious risks surrounding alcohol consumption near water. Royal Life Saving Society – Australia - CEO, Justin Scarr says “We are deeply concerned about the high level of intoxication of men when in and around waterways. A culture of risk-taking behaviour by men around water can be dangerous, and when combined with alcohol, can be fatal.”

Of the activities resulting in drowning deaths while under the influence of alcohol, 41% were as a result of jumping in, and 32% were due to accidental falls into water.

Mr Scarr continues, “Look out for your mates, leave the booze until safely away from the water, and pull them into line if they’re under the influence and thinking about swimming or boating. You can literally save their life.”